A shot in the arm: UNMH clinic offers back-to-school vaccines

University of New Mexico Hospital nurse Pilar Montero has been there — a line of nervous kids stretching out the door, anxious to receive a shot or two in their arm before they head back to school.

But this time, Montero was on the other end of the line. Instead of administering vaccines, she was waiting patiently with her two daughters, 12-year-old Alicia and 9-year-old Karina.

“I want to make sure (my children) are caught up on all of their vaccines,” Montero said. “These kids are all going to be in the classroom again, and they need to be protected.”

Alicia and Karina were two of the 137 children to get shots Tuesday afternoon at the University of New Mexico Southwest Mesa Center for Family and Community Health, which was host to its annual free back-to-school shot clinic.

Montero previously had worked two shot clinics where she was the one doling out the shots.

“It’s a little strange to be on the other side,” she said. “It’s hard for me not to want to jump in and say, ‘Hey, I’m here to help.’”

The mother was smiling and laughing with her children, her spirits high only months after she had a malignant tumor removed from her brain.

“It was like a third eye,” she said, pointing to the scar on her forehead.

In addition to the free vaccines, children who got their shots were also given a free backpack, school supplies, toys and books. These items were either donated to the health center or purchased using donations to the clinic.

Montero was grateful to have access to the school supplies, citing her surgery and recovery as a hindrance to getting the necessary back-to-school items.

“We know that our community is hurting and families are hurting and they need assistance, so we give them as much school supplies as we can,” said Loretta Sanchez, a community support worker at the clinic in southwest Albuquerque.

Getting to pick out a backpack and a book was a highlight for the children who had to endure getting a shot as well.

Lucas Hurd, 8, buried his face into his hands when he heard he needed four shots.

His grandmother, Patricia Gonzalez, held his hand as he got the shots.

“You did so good,” she told Lucas, still holding his hand.

Gonzalez, who heard about the event from the radio, said she was grateful to the nurses and the clinic for holding the event.

Caretakers can visit https://vaccine.doh.nm.gov to learn more about shot clinics and school vaccine requirements.