New Mexico Register / Volume XXXII, Issue 22 / November 30, 2021

 

 

EXECUTIVE ORDER 2021-062

 

EXPANDING COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTER DOSE ELIGIBILITY

TO ALL ADULTS WORKING OR LIVING IN NEW MEXICO

 

                WHEREAS, on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization ("WHO") announced the emergence of a novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) that had not previously circulated in humans, but has been found to have adopted to humans such that it is contagious and easily spread from one person to another and one country to another;

                WHEREAS, COVID-19 cases had been confirmed in New Mexico since March 11, 2020, when the New Mexico Department of Health confirmed the first cases of individuals infected with COVID-19 in New Mexico and additional cases have been confirmed each day since then;

                WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, because of the spread of COVID-19, I issued Executive Order 2020-004 declaring a Public Health Emergency exists in New Mexico under the Public Health Emergency Response Act, and invoked my authority under the All Hazards Emergency Management Act;

                WHEREAS, I have renewed the declaration of a Public Health Emergency through December 10, 2021;

                WHEREAS, the currently available COVID-19 vaccines are a safe and effective way of preventing serious illness or death;

                WHEREAS, new COVID-19 infections dropped significantly following the State’s effective rollout of the vaccines early this year;

                WHEREAS, the State recently recorded a significant surge in new COVID-19 infections beginning in early Fall and continuing to this day;

                WHEREAS, a highly-transmissible variant, B.1.617.2, commonly known as the Delta variant, now accounts for the majority of new infections;

                WHEREAS, many, if not all, of our hospitals are operating above capacity to accommodate and treat those infected with COVID-19;

                WHEREAS, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has authorized booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines for, among other populations, individuals 18 years of age and older who live or work in high risk settings;

                WHEREAS, the FDA authorized the booster doses to be administered two months after receiving the Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine and six months after completing the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccination series;

                WHEREAS, the widespread and ongoing surge of COVID-19 infections poses a substantial risk to the health, safety, and wellbeing of all New Mexicans; and

                WHEREAS, all vaccinated New Mexicans are urged to receive a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are eligible.

                NOW THEREFORE, I, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of the State of New Mexico, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of New Mexico, do hereby DECLARE the entire State of New Mexico high risk for exposure or transmission of COVID-19 and, therefore, all individuals 18 years of age and older living or working in this State are now eligible to receive a safe and effective booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

                I FURTHER ORDER and DIRECT as follows:

                1.             This Order supersedes any previous orders, proclamations, policies or directives to the extent they are in conflict.

                2.             This Order shall take effect on November 12, 2021 and shall remain in effect until renewed, modified, or rescinded.

 

ATTEST:                                                                               DONE AT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE

                                                                                                THIS 12TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2021

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MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER                                   WITNESS MY HAND AND THE GREAT

SECRETARY OF STATE                                               SEAL OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

 

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                                                                                                MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM GOVERNOR