New Mexico hospital officials push for more vaccinations

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN
Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Top officials with New Mexico’s largest hospitals are making another plea for more people to get vaccinated. They said during a briefing Tuesday that they want to avoid the staffing and bed shortages that hospitals in other states are seeing as COVID-19 cases rise nationwide. Officials with University of New Mexico Hospital, Lovelace Health System and Presbyterian Healthcare Services said they already are full with patients needing care for other illnesses and medical needs. They are worried that if the latest surge worsens, resources could be be stretched thin again. While most patients needing hospitalization for COVID-19 are unvaccinated, they noted that about 7% had received their shots.