1st Las Cruces shipments of virus vaccine arrive at hospitals, shots given

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- At least 1,300 initial doses of the historic Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine arrived at Las Cruces hospitals on Tuesday morning, according to hospital officials.

Packed in a UPS box with a shipping label that read "critical," 975 doses of the vaccine arrived at Memorial Medical Center on Telshor Boulevard about 10 a.m.

Also in Las Cruces, MountainView Regional Medical Center received its initial allotment of 325 doses too, with the first half-dozen vaccine shots being administered shortly after noon.

Additional healthcare workers are earmarked for the rest of the shots to be administered this week in accordance with state health department guidelines.

“We begin to turn the tide, protecting ourselves and our communities and moving toward a brighter day," Dr. Tracie Collins, the secretary-designate for the New Mexico Department of Health said on Tuesday in a news conference.