By Michelle Lujan Grisham, Anna Pentler
Secretary New Mexico Department of Health; Executive director New Mexico Immunization Coalition
Your Sept. 15 article about the state's immunization rates cited a possible link between a drop in Medicaid enrollment and a decline in the state's immunization rates. There are a number of potential causes for the slight dip in the number of children receiving these important vaccines, and we are committed to finding solutions. However, it is important for parents to understand that every child in New Mexico is eligible for immunizations regardless of whether they have private health insurance, Medicaid or no insurance.
New Mexico is considered a "universal vaccine state," meaning all children in New Mexico can receive vaccines at no cost.
The New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Immunization Coalition want to make sure all children receive immunizations on time and at the right age so they are protected as soon as possible.
While many providers charge an administrative fee or co-pay, the administrative fee can potentially be waived if someone can't pay. In addition, the Department of Health's 55 public health offices do not charge any fees for uninsured patients who need vaccines.
The Department of Health receives the bulk of its vaccine supply from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vaccines For Children Program.
Most of New Mexico's children qualify for the program because they are either on Medicaid, uninsured, underinsured or Native American.
We have about 609,000 children in New Mexico from age birth to 18, and 445,000 of those children are in the Vaccines for Children Program. We also make sure our insured children receive the vaccines they need and then work with insurance companies to cover our costs.
Access to medical care should never be a barrier to getting your children the vaccines they need to protect themselves from preventable diseases.
More than 450 providers across the state participate in the Vaccines for Children Program and can give your children immunizations. You can also go to one of the Department of Health's public health offices.
Your local public health office is listed in the state government section of your phone book, and a full list of contact information is available on the department's website, www.health.state.nm.us.
Protecting your children with vaccines continues to be an important priority for the Department of Health and the New Mexico Immunization Coalition. It takes all of us - the State, advocates, parents, providers - to ensure that children are safe from deadly but preventable diseases.
Providers play a key role in reminding parents about the importance of vaccines and missing no opportunities to keep their patients up to date on their immunizations.
For more information on immunizations, please visit the department's Immunization Program website, www.health.state.nm.us/ immunize or call the immunization hotline, 888-231-2367.
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