Susan Garrison, NMPHD certified nurse practitioner administers the vaccination to one of the 300 recipients expected today.

Residents line up to receive the vaccine.

By Roger Lanse

A COVID-19 vaccination clinic was held Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, at the New Mexico Public Health Department office on Silver Street. Public Health nurses and employees braved the cold, cloudy weather outside to administer the Pfizer vaccinations to those to residents who had pre-registered.

Jeff Fell, the town’s Emergency Management Officer, told the Beat that while both Fridays and Mondays were originally chosen for the vaccination clinics, only Fridays are being considered now, although if needed, Mondays could be utilized.

Residents can register for the COVID-19 vaccination by calling 1-855-600-3453, or accessing vaccinenm.org.

Volunteers from the Pinos Altos Volunteer Fire and Rescue were on hand to monitor those receiving the vaccine for any adverse reaction. Both Buck Burns, EMT, of PAVFR, and Fell, said any serious reaction would be extremely rare. Fell told the Beat that no serious adverse reactions to the vaccination have been noted. He said that nationally, the rate of serious adverse reactions to the vaccine has been in the range of 1-10 incidents per one million vaccinations.