Vaccine update; County is working hard to protect people from COVID-19

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By: Diego Lopez

CIBOLA COUNTY, NM – Cibola County has been rolling out COVID-19 vaccines for about three weeks now for frontline healthcare workers and first responders. Soon staff and residents of long-term healthcare facilities will receive inoculations.

Healthcare professionals were first in line to be inoculated because they are Cibola’s most important tool in the battle against the novel coronavirus. Following healthcare workers first responders such as EMS, including ambulance staff, firefighters, and law enforcement, were given the shots. These professionals are often in contact with the public including people who have been exposed or may be positive for COVID-19.

Now, inoculations are set to begin for people in long-term care facilities, like old folks’ homes and assisted living facilities.

Beginning next week first responders will receive their second shot of the vaccine. Both the approved vaccines (Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna) require two shots for the best protection.

Cibola County Emergency Manager Dustin Middleton, who has been one of the top generals in Cibola’s battle against COVID-19, said that roughly 25 to 30 percent of county residents have received the vaccine. Despite the good news, Middleton warned that people need to continue wearing masks and adhering to health and safety regulations because the threat is still present.

Vaccine statistics

Overall, New Mexico has vaccinated 1.9 percent of its population according to data compiled by the New Mexico Department of Health, US Centers for Disease Control, and interviews with state officials. New Mexico had administered, as of press time, about 42.1 percent of the vaccines distributed to the state. It was not clear if that included the doses put on reserve for the second shot.

Cibola County is expecting three more shipments of vaccine within the next three weeks. It is unclear how many vaccines come in each shipment, with Emergency Manager Middleton explaining that each shipment will likely have 50 doses.

Despite getting about 50 doses, Cibola County has managed to get roughly 60 doses out of each shipment.

“Because the lady that does it is d**n good at her job,” Middleton said.

“She deserves so much credit; her name is Vanessa Marez and she’s advocating hard for our first responders.”

In Wisconsin and New York state several doses of the vaccine have been sabotaged or destroyed, allegedly, by nurses in those states. This county has had no issues with distributing the vaccine. “We’ve used every bit [of the vaccine] that we’ve received so far,” Middleton said.

Long-term health care facilities

New Mexico and Cibola County are entering the phase that allows people in long-term health care facilities and old folks’ homes to begin receiving vaccinations. Nursing staff at these facilities have already begun receiving inoculations; now the state program will be moving on to residents at these facilities.

Overall, these facilities have contributed greatly to the state’s COVID-death toll, roughly 27 percent.

It was unclear as of press time what the exact process for inoculations at these facilities is going to look like. Given that the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine requires storage at minus-94 degrees Fahrenheit, and all the vaccines will be under guard by law enforcement, a special process may be required to get the vaccine into the arms of residents at these facilities.

Middleton explained that the process requires distribution at an approved location, then it needs to have security to ensure against the threat of tampering and may require a special manager to help administer the shot. The emergency manager said that it may require a local NMDOH official to help administer the vaccine but likely the facility’s nurses will be the ones giving the inoculations.

What is it like to get the shot?

When inoculation became available, Emergency Manager Middleton took the vaccine.

He experienced soreness in his arm, but that it was not too much different from any other shot. Middleton said the soreness lasted slightly longer than he was used to but that was about it.

“Overall, no major effects [from the vaccine],” Middleton said.

When it is available, how can I get a vaccine?

Middleton explained that there is a website set up like the one used for COVID-19 testing.

Citizens must register for the vaccine, and right now the New Mexico Department of Health has opened pre-registration to get ahead of the anticipated demand expected when the vaccine is available to the general public.

The vaccine is not mandatory, citizens interested in receiving the vaccine may pre-register here: https://cvvaccine.nmhealth.org/

The process will be like that used in testing for the coronavirus. A hub will be set up and people can drive through, be confirmed that they are permitted to have the shot, and then drive through to be inoculated, according to Middleton.

He cautioned that every person who gets the vaccine will be asked to park and wait in their vehicle for 15 minutes after being inoculated just in case of an allergic reaction. People with other health conditions, like diabetes, will be asked to stay 30 minutes to make sure they exhibit no reactions.

“We just want to make sure that no one gets into a car accident or anything after the shot,” Middleton said.

Health officials advised that people with severe allergies should receive the vaccine in a hospital setting or other facility where medical assistance will be available, in the event of an allergic reaction.

COVID-19 testing

The emergency manager’s office and Cibola County Health Office changed the testing site three weeks ago. It was originally available at the county health department office on Roosevelt Avenue in Grants. It has been moved to 2001 Clif Lear Ave., Grants.

The site was relocated in the interest of traffic control and safety concerns for the public and staff. Google Maps and other map applications do not have the new location the as the tracking systems are not yet updated, Middleton said that the county is working on fixing this.

The new site is at the old National Guard Armory, beyond the interstate overpass, just past the Cibola Senior Citizens Center and Elkins’ Brewing Company on the east side of Grants.

“The new location,” Middleton said, “is more secure. Some people have run over traffic cones but that’s to be expected.”

The move eliminated the inconvenience for people who needed access to the grocery store and judicial courts on Roosevelt.

National Guardsmen are on there to help manage traffic and confirm pre-registration details; they also assist local health officials.

Because testing is only done in Cibola on Tuesdays and Thursday it is imperative to pre-register or risk begin turned away. Sometimes the line is exceptionally long and the professionals on the scene do not have the ability to register anyone.

Community members can register for testing here: https://cvtestreg.nmhealth.org/

Where is Cibola today?

As of Monday, January 4 Cibola County had recorded 2,318 total cases, with 76 deaths and a total of 44,699 completed tests.

One week ago, on Dec. 28, Cibola stood at 2,205 total cases, with 68 deaths.

That is a case increase of 4.5 percent and an increase in deaths of 11.7 percent from last week.

With 1,159 recoveries as of Jan. 4, Cibola has 1,159 active COVID-19 infections.

There are currently 531 total positive cases in Cibola County’s prison and detention facilities. Including 419 total positive cases at Cibola County Correctional Center in Milan, NM; 106 total positive cases at Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Grants, NM; six total positive cases at Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Grants. The state of New Mexico does not track recoveries in the prisons and detention facilities. These numbers are from the beginning of the pandemic through Monday, Jan. 4.

“Stay safe. There is a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Emergency Manager Middleton.