New Mexico extends eligibility for COVID-19 boosters to all adults

New Mexico is extending eligibility for COVID-19 boosters to all adults, joining California and Colorado.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) announced Friday that all adults were eligible to get a booster shot of the coronavirus vaccine. 

“As we have throughout this unpredictable and unprecedented global pandemic, we always stand ready to quickly implement new tools and policies in our fight against this terrible disease,” Lujan Grisham said.

“I strongly encourage every New Mexican to register for a booster today — we have appointments available and are ready to get shots in arms,” the governor added. 

The state is saying those who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine two months ago and those who got the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines six months ago should go get a booster shot. 

New Mexico, Colorado and California have rushed past federal guidance for booster shots for adults amid surging COVID-19 cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has only recommended booster shots for those over the age of 65 and those at high-risk for the virus.

The CDC considers someone high risk based on underlying health conditions, where a person lives or their occupation. 

“Case counts are significant, spread rates are far too high, and the Delta variant is far more transmissible than previous variants. In addition, our hospitals are well beyond capacity, and several have declared Crisis Standards of Care,” said the acting secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health, David R. Scrase. “Those factors absolutely make New Mexico a high-risk setting.”

The state also extended its indoor mask mandate until Dec. 10.