New Mexico edges closer to hitting Covid-19 vaccination goal
SANTA FE, New Mexico — A key deadline looms for reopening New Mexico as Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wanted to have at least 60% of residents fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by Thursday so the state could move forward with plans in the coming weeks to lift some of the last public health restrictions for retailers, restaurants and other businesses.
Vaccinations in the state have been inching up only by a couple tenths of a percent daily, and state officials said Wednesday that another 21,307 people would need to get either their booster shots or the one-time Johnson & Johnson vaccine in order for the state to hit the mark.
State data showed the vaccination rate at 58.7% on Wednesday, up from 58.5% the day before.
New Mexico has been offering cash incentives this week and has been promoting a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes through social media posts and emails in hopes of reaching the governor's goal.
“We have good data that the incentives are working,” Dr. David Scrase, head of New Mexico's Human Services Department, said during a virtual briefing. “I think they're kicking in. We're seeing an ascent every day in appointments and vaccines sought. ... We are really, really focused on this.”
