♪ MUSIC REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

HELLO I'M LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA F. OH, WE HAVE A GOOD GUEST TODAY, DR.

MIRANDA DURHAM, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, NEW MEXICO'S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS, BUT I'M GOING TO START WITH A VERY BASIC ONE.

HOW IS NEW MEXICO DOING, IF YOU'RE TREATING NEW MEXICO AS IF IT WERE A PATIENT, WHAT ARE WE STRONG IN, WHAT ARE OUR WEAKNESSES, JUST WHAT'S THE GENERAL OVERALL HEALTH OF NEW MEXICO AS A STATE?

>>MIRANDA: YEAH, WELL THANKS FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

YOU KNOW, AS YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE, NEW MEXICO DOES HAVE A FAIR NUMBER OF CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF HEALTH.

WE HAVE A REALLY RURAL POPULATION, SOME ISSUES WITH ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, BUT I ALSO THINK THERE ARE SO MANY STRENGTHS, SOME OF THOSE I WOULD SAY IT'S GREAT TEAM AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, GREAT PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE, AND REALLY THE INTER-AGENCY COLLABORATION.

I LOVE THAT NEW MEXICO REALLY LOOKS AT HEALTH AS MUCH BROADER THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONAL WHAT'S YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE... >>LORENE: BAND-AIDS... >>MIRANDA: YEAH AND KIND OF LOOKING AT, AS WE WERE MENTIONING EARLIER, EARLY CHILDHOOD CHILDCARE FOR CHILDREN IS IMPORTANT AND RECOGNIZING HOUSING, NUTRITION, SO WE REALLY HAVE A BROAD DEFINITION OF HEALTH CARE, THOSE MAKE THOSE BIG PROJECTS IMPORTANT.

>>LORENE: YOU THINK OUR HEALTH IS STRONG, WITH A FEW HOLES PERHAPS?

>>MIRANDA: SO I THINK YOU KNOW WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CHRONIC DISEASE IN THE STATE, AND I THINK WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE ISSUES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, SOMETHING LIKE OUR RECENT MEASLES OUTBREAK, WE JUST HAD A GREAT RESPONSE FROM ACROSS THE STATE, PEOPLE HEEDING THE CALL AND GETTING VACCINATED, AND KIND OF WRAPPED THAT UP IN SHORTER TIME THAN EXPECTED.

>>LORENE: YES, THAT'S ONE THING I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT BECAUSE THE VERY IDEA OF VACCINES CAN BE CONTROVERSIAL.

MAYBE I'LL DO YOUR BACKGROUND FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE CONTROVERSY.

YOU JOINED THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TEAM IN 2019, YOU WERE A NORTHWEST REGION OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH OFFICER.

YOU WERE PRACTICING, OF COURSE, AND SUPERVISING CLINICAL SERVICES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICES, THEN YOU MOVED TO BE INFECTIOUS DISEASES MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND NOW YOU'RE THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, WHAT A NICE JOURNEY.

I LOVE THIS, YOU HAVE A KEY ROLE IN THE NEW MEXICO COVID PLANNING AND RESPONSE TEAM.

YES, THE CHIEF FOR, I LOVE THE TITLE OF THIS AGENCY, THE COVID VACCINE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM, IT SOUNDS MILITARY, IT SOUNDS LIKE PINS ON THE MAP, IT SOUNDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, RESULTS, COLUMNS, AND EVERYTHING, TELL ME, COMMANDER.

>>MIRANDA: USING THAT INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM, IT REALLY COMES OUT OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE LIKE FIREFIGHTERS USE IT IN A BIG RESPONSE.

AND SO, IT DOES HAVE THAT ELEMENT OF JUST BEING SUPER ORGANIZED, REALLY GOOD COMMUNICATION AND WE HAD A GREAT TEAM IN NEW MEXICO.

>>LORENE: YOU'VE HAD SOME REALLY INTERESTING EXPERIENCES.

FOR 20 YEARS, YOU WERE WITH A TRIBAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER WITH THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE AND THEN TALK ABOUT THE PEACE CORPS.

>>MIRANDA: YEAH, AFTER COLLEGE, I JOINED THE PEACE CORPS AND TAUGHT AGRICULTURE IN BOTSWANA IN A REALLY RURAL TOWN.

THE SCHOOL WAS ONLY HALF BUILT WHEN I FIRST SHOWED UP THERE, AND EACH KID HAD THEIR OWN GARDEN PLOT.

I MEAN, ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS WAS THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT HEALTH TOPICS CAME UP, THERE WAS JUST NO HEALTH EDUCATION FOR THESE KIDS, SO ACTUALLY THE BURSAR OF THE SCHOOL, THE PERSON WHO KEPT THE BOOKS, AND I WERE THE ONLY TWO WOMEN THERE.

WE DID A LOT OF JUST KIND OF OFF THE CUFF HEALTH ED FOR THE GIRLS.

>>LORENE: SNEEZING PROPHYLAXIS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>>MIRANDA: YEAH, BIRTH CONTROL.

>>LORENE: YEAH, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

GOOD FOR YOU, WHAT A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

AND THEN YOU SEE HOW RICH WE ARE IN TERMS OF OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM HERE.

>>MIRANDA: JUST AMAZING.

>>LORENE: NOW, MY FAVORITE TOPIC: VACCINES.

OKAY, YOU'VE WORKED WITH THE PHARMACY BOARD TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR THEM TO FREELY DISPENSE VACCINES, BUT THIS IS WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

SOMEHOW, THE MESSAGE GOT MIXED UP, THERE WAS MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE ITSELF, LIKE WOULD IT DAMAGE A KID'S HEART AND THEN SOME PHARMACIES WOULDN'T GET IT, AND SOME OF THEM WOULDN'T TAKE INSURANCE AND WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DON'T HAVE INSURANCE?

SO, IT SEEMS LIKE OUR HEALTH IS TOO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS KIND OF SQUIRRELING US ABOUT WHAT AND WHEN AND HOW WE CAN GET A VACCINE, IT SHOULD BE OPEN DOOR, COME IN, DRIVE UP, WE'LL GIVE YOU.

>>MIRANDA: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THAT AND THEN PLEASE GIVE US ADVICE ON HOW TO AVOID FLU, RSV, AND COVID, ALL THE RESPIRATORY THINGS, IT'S THE SEASON IS STARTING, HERE THEY COME.

>>MIRANDA: RIGHT, RIGHT.

YEAH, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE MESSAGING HAS BEEN TOUGH THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE PROCESSES HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST.

SO WITHOUT, SO JUST TO LAY OUT THE NORMAL PROCESS IS USUALLY THAT AN FDA ADVISORY BOARD GIVES ADVICE TO THE FDA OR TO THE VACCINE MANUFACTURERS ABOUT WHAT VARIANT WE SHOULD BE TARGETING.

THEN THE FDA SIGNS OFF ON THAT VERSION OF THE VACCINE, AND THEN THE ACIP SAYS HERE'S WHO SHOULD GET IT AND HOW OFTEN.

>>LORENE: WAS IT BECAUSE OF THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL?

>>MIRANDA: IT WAS NOT.

>>LORENE: WHAT COULD CAUSE THE NORMAL PROCESS OF HAVING A COMMITTEE WHO SAYS THIS IS A VARIANT, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE PREPARED FOR.

DID WE MISS OUT ON THAT IMPORTANT STEP?

>>MIRANDA: NO, WE GOT THE ADVICE OF WHICH VARIANT TO TARGET, THEN WE GOT THE UPDATED VACCINES FROM THE MANUFACTURERS AND FDA SIGNED OFF ON THAT VACCINE, BUT WITH THOSE NARROWER INDICATIONS.

AND AGAIN, THAT ISN'T USUALLY, FDA IS USUALLY SIGNING OFF ON THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF THE VACCINE.

HOW WELL DOES IT WORK AND IS IT SAFE AND WE'VE GOT LOTS OF DATA FROM THE LAST FIVE YEARS ON THAT SAFETY AND EFFICACY.

THE PIECE WE'RE MISSING IS ACIP, THE CDC ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT USUALLY GIVES US THE, AGAIN, WHO SHOULD GET IT AND HOW OFTEN.

AND IN NEW MEXICO, OUR ABILITY OF PHARMACISTS TO GIVE THE VACCINE WAS TIED TO THOSE ACIP RECOMMENDATIONS.

ACIP IS MEETING THIS WEEK, AT THIS POINT, I DON'T THINK WE REALLY NEED THEM IN NEW MEXICO, BUT THAT IS WHAT WE WERE MISSING AND WHY PHARMACISTS IN NEW MEXICO COULDN'T, WHY SOME PHARMACIES WERE SAYING THEY COULDN'T GIVE IT.

THE PHARMACY BOARD GOT THAT PROTOCOL CHANGE, SO NOW THEY CAN TAKE THE ACIP RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT THEY CAN ALSO LOOK TO THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS, AND OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES, INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

SO WHAT WE DID IS PUT TOGETHER A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT PHARMACISTS COULD USE AND NOW WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS LARGELY WITH PHARMACISTS BEING ABLE TO GIVE VACCINE ON THEIR OWN PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY.

>>LORENE: THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, WHAT A THOROUGH DESCRIPTION.

IT WAS ALWAYS OVER PEOPLE OVER 65, WASN'T IT AND PEOPLE WITH AN UNDERLYING CONDITION, LIKE A SERIOUS DISEASE OR TRANSPLANT PATIENT, OR SOMEONE, WAS THAT EVER IN QUESTION?

>>MIRANDA: SO THOSE WERE NEVER IN QUESTION.

LAST YEAR'S UPDATED COVID VACCINE WAS RECOMMENDED FOR ANYONE SIX MONTHS AND UP, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU HAD AN UNDERLYING CONDITION, BUT IT IS TRUE THAT THE PEOPLE AT HIGHEST RISK FOR BAD OUTCOMES FROM COVID ARE THOSE 65 AND OVER.

THAT HAS NOT CHANGED, THAT'S BEEN THE NUMBER ONE RISK FACTOR FOR A LONG TIME AND THEN PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS.

SO THAT IS STILL A REALLY IMPORTANT GROUP OF PEOPLE TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION AND GET VACCINATED.

>>LORENE: SO JUST I HAVE A PERSONAL PREFERENCE TO NOT GET A FLU SHOT AND THE VACCINE ON THE SAME DAY, I LIKE TO KIND OF GIVE MY BODY A CHANCE, IS THAT WHAT YOU RECOMMEND OR PEOPLE JUST CAN DO IT EITHER WAY, GET IT ALL DONE AT ONCE OR WAIT A LITTLE BIT BETWEEN.

>>MIRANDA: I THINK THAT'S PERSONAL PREFERENCE, SOME PEOPLE JUST LIKE TO HAVE TWO SORE ARMS AT ONE TIME OR ONE REALLY SORE ARM AT ONE TIME AND OTHER PEOPLE LIKE TO SPACE IT OUT, SO THAT EITHER WAY WORKS.

>>LORENE: WHICH IS MORE LIKELY TO GIVE YOU THE SOREST OF ARMS?

>>MIRANDA: I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE THE SAME SORENESS, IT'S WHETHER YOU'RE A LUMPER OR A SPLITTER.

>>LORENE: OK.

BUT WHICH VACCINE?

>>MIRANDA: I THINK COVID PROBABLY STILL NUDGES THAT FOR A SORE ARM.

>>LORENE: WELL, WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU.

SO, CAN YOU ADVISE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, NOW PEOPLE ARE PUTTING ON THEIR MASKS AGAIN JUST WHEN THEY'RE IN A CLOSED ROOM, BUT WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME NOT INSIDE WITH ANYBODY.

AND NOW, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME PROPHYLACTIC PREVENTIVE PROTOCOLS FOR HOW PEOPLE SHOULD ENTER, PASS THROUGH THE WORLD NOW THAT THE FLU AND COLD AND RESPIRATORY DISEASE SEASON IS UPON US, RSV TOO.

>>MIRANDA: RIGHT, RIGHT.

SO, WE CAN CIRCLE BACK AROUND TO VACCINES, BUT I THINK YOUR POINT IS A GOOD ONE, WHICH IS THERE ARE OTHER THINGS BESIDES JUST VACCINES THAT CAN HELP US GET THROUGH THE WINTER RESPIRATORY SEASON.

THOSE LESSONS WE LEARNED IN THE PANDEMIC, WEARING A MASK IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OR YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE TRAVELING, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHO'S AROUND YOU.

I THINK HAND WASHING IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT ONE.

>>LORENE: IT'S SO BASIC, NEVER FORGET IT.

JUST WHEN YOU COME HOME, WASH YOUR JUST YOU KNOW, JUST ONE LITTLE TOUCH AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE GOT A VIRUS THERE, YOU'VE INVITED IT IN.

>>MIRANDA: RIGHT, RIGHT.

SO THOSE ARE REALLY KEY PARTS OF GETTING THROUGH, COVERING YOUR COUGHS AND SNEEZES WITH AN ELBOW IS ALSO POLITE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR.

THEN THE VACCINE, WE DO HAVE A BROADER ARRAY OF VACCINES NOW.

WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COVID AND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.

FLU, ACTUALLY, THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH CHANGE THIS YEAR, THE RECOMMENDATION IS SIX MONTHS AND UP, EVERYONE SHOULD GET A FLU SHOT THIS YEAR, AS IT IS EVERY YEAR.

ACIP HASN'T REALLY, NONE OF THE FEDERAL SITUATION HAS CHANGED THAT RECOMMENDATION.

>>LORENE: BUT HAVE THEY CHANGED THE FORMULATION IN THE SHOT?

>>MIRANDA: THEY DID, THEY UPDATED.

>>LORENE: OKAY, SO COVID IS FOR THIS VARIATION, AND THE FLU SHOT IS ALSO FOR THIS YEAR'S HIT PARADE.

>>MIRANDA: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: OKAY, WELL, THAT'S REALLY GOOD TOO, BECAUSE I HAD HEARD.

THERE WAS A RUMOR ONE OF THE DISCOURAGED RUMORS WAS THAT SOME PEOPLE WERE USING THE OLD VACCINE, SOME PHARMACIES AND WE JUST CAN'T HAVE THAT.

>>MIRANDA: YEAH, AND REALLY FLU VACCINE EVERY YEAR EXPIRES ABOUT JUNE 30TH, SO YOU JUST CAN'T GIVE IT PAST THEN, YOU KNOW, UNLESS YOU'RE YEAH, YOU CAN'T GIVE IT.

IT'S EXPIRED, IT GETS SHIPPED BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THEN THE NEW ONE ROLLS IN USUALLY AROUND MID-AUGUST.

SO ANYTHING YOU'RE GETTING NOW REALLY IS THE UPDATED VERSION.

>>LORENE: WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH DR.

MIRANDA DURHAM, WHO IS THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER.

SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO KNOW ALL THIS.

I JUST WANT TO REVISIT ONE FACT ABOUT VACCINES.

SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH IT AND SO HOW BAD IS THIS FLU AND THIS YEAR'S COVID, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO MISS OUT ON IF THEY DON'T GET SICK?

>>MIRANDA: YEAH, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, VACCINE IS PERSONAL CHOICE AND I THINK ONE OF THE HARD THINGS IS WE NEVER REALLY CAN PREDICT WHAT THE SEASON'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, RIGHT?

SO IF WE HAVE A REALLY MILD WINTER, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MIGHT BE LEFT WITH THE IDEA, WHY DID I GET THE SHOT, NO ONE I KNOW IS SICK.

BUT YOU'RE REALLY GETTING THAT SHOT TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY AND IF IT IS A BAD SEASON, I MEAN, WE ALSO CAN'T PREDICT THAT.

SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WINTER IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, LAST WINTER WAS A PRETTY BAD FLU YEAR WITH A LOT OF HOSPITALIZATIONS IN NEW MEXICO.

OFTENTIMES, WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'LL LOOK LIKE THIS YEAR.

>>LORENE: THEY SAY OLD SUFI SAYING "TRUST IN GOD BUT TIE YOUR CAMEL."

SO WE'LL GET OUR SHOTS.

>>MIRANDA: RIGHT, SO GET YOUR SHOT BECAUSE, THEN YOU JUST DON'T HAVE TO WORRY.

>>LORENE: ESPECIALLY LIKE OLDER PEOPLE COULD BE SAYING TO THEIR FAMILY, OH, I NEVER GO ANYWHERE, WHY SHOULD I BOTHER AND YET THEY'RE THE MOST WHO WOULD SUFFER TERRIBLY IF THEY REALLY GOT A BAD CASE OF COVID.

OH, TALK TO ME ABOUT LONG COVID.

>>MIRANDA: YEAH, SO ON THE ISSUE OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T GO ANYWHERE, I THINK, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO YOU TOO, AND WHAT THEY MIGHT BE BRINGING WITH YOU.

SO I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE THEIR EXPOSURES, EVEN JUST GOING OUT TO THE QUICK TRIP TO THE STORE, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.

LONG COVID, YOU KNOW, THE COVID VACCINE HAS BEEN SHOWN TO PROTECT AGAINST THE RISK OF LONG COVID, AND IT'S STILL, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL OUT THERE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM THE EFFECTS OF HAVING COVID THAT GO ON FOR MONTHS TO YEARS.

>>LORENE: I HAVE HEARD ANECDOTAL STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO JUST, THEY'VE NEVER BEEN THE SAME, AND IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS.

SO AGAIN, YOU CAN HEAD THAT OFF AT THE PASS BY GETTING VACCINATED.

YOU KNOW WHY TAKE THAT CHANCE, THAT'S WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

SOME OF THE ANTI-VACCINE THEORIES ARE REALLY ON THE CONSPIRACY EDGE OF THINGS.

THERE'S NO MEDICAL BASIS FOR IT, AND IT'S FEAR-MONGERING, ESPECIALLY I THINK THE ONE THAT THE VACCINE INJURES THE HEARTS OF CHILDREN.

>>MIRANDA: THERE'S A VERY, VERY TINY RISK OF MYOCARDITIS OR INFLAMMATION OF THE HEART IN KIDS, YOUNG PEOPLE, LATE TEENS TO EARLY 30S.

IT HAS HAPPENED THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS INFLAMMATION, THEY'VE RECOVERED FROM IT.

SO IT'S NOT ZERO RISK, BUT IT IS VERY, VERY LOW RISK WITH THE COVID VACCINE.

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH.

SO IF WE CAN JUST STEP ASIDE FROM COVID AND FLU, WHAT OTHER, AND RSV, TALK A LITTLE ABOUT RSV.

>>MIRANDA: YEAH, RSV IS A NEWER VACCINE, RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS.

IT'S A DISEASE THAT I THINK PEOPLE OFTEN THINK ABOUT AS AFFECTING CHILDREN, YOUNG CHILDREN, WHICH IT DOES, IT'S THE NUMBER ONE REASON THAT CHILDREN UNDER ONE ARE HOSPITALIZED IN THE U.S.

AND THEN MORE RECENTLY, IT'S BEEN ON THE RADAR AS IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING THAT ANYONE CAN GET, BUT IT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE 65 AND OVER, OFTEN A CAUSE OF HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR THAT GROUP.

SO WE DO HAVE A VACCINE, THIS ONE IS A ONE AND DONE.

SO IF YOU'VE GOT IT LAST YEAR, YOU DON'T NEED TO GET IT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

IT'S BEEN AROUND, I THINK WE'RE IN OUR THIRD SEASON OF HAVING IT AVAILABLE AND IT IS RECOMMENDED FOR EVERYONE 75 AND OVER TO GET THAT RSV VACCINE AND PEOPLE 50 TO 74 WITH THE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.

>>LORENE: RIGHT, RIGHT, BECAUSE RSV, BEING A VIRUS, IT'S HARD TO TREAT.

>>MIRANDA: THERE IS NO TREATMENT.

>>LORENE: SO BEST JUST NOT TO GET IT.

>>MIRANDA: BEST NOT TO GET IT.

AND THEN FOR THE BABIES, IT'S KIND OF A DIFFERENT, WE ALSO HAVE A VACCINE OF SORTS FOR THEM.

IT'S A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY SHOT, AND IT HAS BEEN AMAZINGLY EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING HOSPITALIZATIONS IN OUR YOUNGEST INFANTS.

SO THAT'S AN EXCITING NEW ISSUE.

AGAIN, WE'RE ON YEAR THREE OR SO OF HAVING THAT AVAILABLE.

THE OTHER COOL THING IS PREGNANT WOMEN WHO GET VACCINATED WITH THE RSV VACCINE TOWARDS THE END OF THEIR PREGNANCY PASS ON THAT IMMUNITY TO THEIR BABY, JUST LIKE WITH FLU, JUST LIKE WITH COVID AND IT REALLY HELPS PROTECT BABIES IN THAT FIRST SIX MONTHS OF LIFE.

>>LORENE: AND THAT'S WHAT A WOMAN WANTS TO DO.

THAT'S GOOD, IT PASSES THROUGH THE PLACENTA, AND THE CHILD THEREFORE CARRIES THE IMMUNIZATION VALUE.

SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT VACCINE COVID AND FLU, BUT AS YOUR ROLE AS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, WHAT OTHER DISEASES, WHAT ARE YOU ON THE LOOKOUT FOR AND NEED PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF BESIDES ALL THE SEASONAL RESPIRATORY DISEASES?

>>MIRANDA: I MEAN, REALLY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TRACKS A VERY WIDE RANGE OF DISEASES.

I THINK NUMBER ONE FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS PRESERVING VACCINATIONS FOR SCHOOL KIDS.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF ADULT VACCINES NOW, BUT REALLY, IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT WAY OF PRESERVING THE HEALTH OF NEW MEXICO, HAVING VACCINE AVAILABLE.

>>LORENE: I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE TO PUBLICIZE THE VACCINE MANDATES, AND YOU HAD TO GET THIS, BUT THE NEWS PEOPLE PICKED IT UP AND SAID YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET VACCINES.

IT WAS COMPLETELY WRONG, COMPLETELY WRONG AND THEN EVERYBODY SAID, WELL, HE SAYS WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE VACCINES.

IT WAS NO, WE DON'T HAVE TO MANDATE THAT YOUR KID CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL UNLESS HE'S GOT THESE SHOTS.

SO NOW, I MEAN, IT'S JUST A MESS OF MISINFORMATION AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND THAT STATE WHICH HAS A LOT OF OLD PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND NEEDS EVERYONE TO BE VACCINATED AND NOW THEY'RE WAVING THIS MISINFORMATION AROUND, IT'S JUST HEARTBREAKING.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE.

>>MIRANDA: WE DO NOT HAVE THAT HERE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST VACCINE EXEMPTION RATES IN NEW MEXICO, SO REALLY, A PLACE WHERE THE STATE EXCELS.

I THINK A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR VACCINATION, A LOT OF RECOGNITION, A LOT OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, PHARMACISTS ARE AMAZING PARTNERS IN VACCINATING KIDS AND ADULTS, I THINK A PLACE WHERE THE STATE REALLY EXCELS.

IT JUST MAKES SO MUCH SENSE.

>>LORENE: YES, ABSOLUTELY.

DO YOU KNOW THE ROUGH PERCENTAGE OF KIDS THAT ARE VACCINATED PRESCHOOL OR ELEMENTARY, WELL, ANY PERCENTAGES, HOW ABOUT OLD FOLKS?

JUST GIVE US A ROUGH SENSE OF WHO'S WINNING THE VACCINATION RACE.

>>MIRANDA: YEAH, WELL, THE MEASLES NUMBERS ARE ON KIND OF AT THE TIP OF MY FINGERS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH MEASLES SINCE FEBRUARY AND AT KINDERGARTEN, WE HAD ABOUT, PRETTY CLOSE TO A 95% VACCINATION RATE.

>>LORENE: THAT'S HERD IMMUNITY RIGHT THERE.

>>MIRANDA: AND THAT'S HERD IMMUNITY, THAT IS FANTASTIC.

AND AGAIN, SCHOOL NURSES REALLY HELPING WITH THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES IT'S NOT PARENTS WHO ARE ANTI-VAX, THEY'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT A BUNCH OF SMALL KIDS, I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS THE MOM OF THREE SMALL CHILDREN, AND IT CAN JUST BE HARD TO ORGANIZE GETTING TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND GETTING THE VACCINE.

>>LORENE: AND ALSO, CHILDREN DO NOT LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE SHOT.

>>MIRANDA: AND THEY DON'T LOOK FORWARD TO IT, SO, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST NEED THAT NUDGE TO GO AND GET IT DONE.

IN TERMS OF OLDER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE STILL UNDER 50% OF PEOPLE 65 AND OVER GETTING BOTH FLU AND COVID.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS HIGHER, REALLY PREVENT HOSPITALIZATIONS THIS WINTER.

>>LORENE: WELL I HOPE PEOPLE WATCHING THIS SHOW WILL CONSIDER THAT.

IT'S ALSO REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT ABOUT THE LITTLE KIDS AND MEASLES, ISN'T IT THE MOST CONTAGIOUS VIRUS THERE IS?

>>MIRANDA: IT IS THE MOST CONTAGIOUS VIRUS.

>>LORENE: SO YOU GET ONE KID ON A SCHOOL BUS WITH MEASLES, AND THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT SOME OF THE KIDS SITTING BY HIM WILL GET IT.

>>MIRANDA: IF THEY'RE NOT VACCINATED.

>>LORENE: IF THEY'RE NOT VACCINATED.

>>MIRANDA: IT'S AN AMAZING VACCINE, SO IF THEY'RE ALL VACCINATED, THEN THE CHANCES JUST PLUMMET.

>>LORENE: I ACTUALLY WENT BACK AND HAD MY BLOOD TITERED TO SEE IF MY OLD MEASLES SHOT, WHENEVER I GOT IT, WAS STILL ACTIVE, AND IT IS.

SO I JUST DIDN'T WANT THE APPALOOSA SPOTTED LOOK IS NOT SOMETHING I'M GOING FOR.

I DON'T WANT THE MEASLES.

>>MIRANDA: RIGHT, RIGHT.

GOOD CALL.

>>LORENE: WE HAVE A WONDERFUL AUDIENCE AND AN INTELLIGENT PBS AUDIENCE REALLY PAYS ATTENTION.

SO IF YOU CAN SPEAK ABOUT MAYBE SOME HEALTH ISSUES THAT YOU DON'T OFTEN GET TO TALK ABOUT, I MEAN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POPULAR ONES, THE ONES THAT ARE IN OUR FACE.

BUT ARE THERE SOME OTHER UNDERLYING THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT, WELL, MAYBE I SHOULD CHECK THIS OR THAT.

>>MIRANDA: YEAH, I THINK, I MEAN ONE THING THAT'S PROBABLY SO IMPORTANT IS THE VALUE OF EXERCISE AND YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO GO TO YOUR DOCTOR FOR, BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, HEALTHY AGING AND KEEPING BLOOD PRESSURE UNDER CONTROL AND SUGARS AND JUST ADDRESSING SO MANY ISSUES, DEMENTIA PREVENTION.

ANYWAY, I THINK THAT IS ONE.

>>LORENE: AND ANOTHER ONE I HEARD IS THAT SITTING IS THE NEW SMOKING.

>>MIRANDA: WELL YEAH.

>>LORENE: IT ISN'T, BUT IT'S A METAPHOR.

>>MIRANDA: RIGHT, RIGHT.

>>LORENE: AND SO GET UP.

>>MIRANDA: YEAH, GET UP AND MOVE.

>>LORENE: I HAVE A TIMER ON MY COMPUTER BECAUSE I DO SPEND A LOT OF TIME WORKING, AND WHEN IT GOES OFF, I GET UP AND JUST WALK AROUND JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THEN GO BACK TO WORK.

GOOD FOR THE MIND TOO.

>>MIRANDA: YES, I MEAN, RIGHT AS YOU'RE SAYING, EXERCISE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FANCY.

IT CAN BE SOMETHING YOU ENJOY DOING LIKE DANCING OR PLAYING PICKLEBALL OR JUST TAKING A WALK IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH.

WELL, WE JUST HAVE A MINUTE AND A HALF, TWO MINUTES LEFT, SO IF YOU WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO NEW MEXICANS FOR MORE ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO BE HEALTHY AND THRIVE.

>>MIRANDA: YEAH, I GUESS I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR NURSE HELPLINE.

IF PEOPLE ARE HAVING, YOU KNOW, THESE TOPICS ARE CONFUSING, THE VACCINE ESPECIALLY, SO IF YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING A VACCINE OR UNDERSTANDING IF YOU NEED A VACCINE, IF YOU WANT TO GIVE OUR NURSE HELPLINE A CALL.

>>LORENE: DO YOU KNOW THAT NUMBER?

>>MIRANDA: THAT NUMBER IS (833) 796-8773.

>>LORENE: GREAT, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

WE'LL PUT IT UP THERE.

>>MIRANDA: THEY ARE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR CALL AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID VACCINE OR ANY OTHER VACCINE.

>>LORENE: OH MY GOD, WHAT A RESOURCE THAT IS.

SOMEONE IN RURAL NEW MEXICO, SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BABY, THEY'VE GOT SOMEONE TO CALL TO SAY WHETHER, I THINK YOU SHOULD BRING THE BABY IN AND BE SEEN OR YOU KNOW, REST, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT STUFF AND JUST WAIT A COUPLE OF DAYS, I THINK YOU'VE GOT TIME, I DON'T THINK IT'S AN EMERGENCY.

BUT TO GET PROFESSIONAL ADVICE WHEN YOU'RE A MOM IN RURAL, WHO KNOWS WHERE, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PLACES THAT ARE ALMOST HEALTH CARE DESERTS.

>>MIRANDA: YEAH, YEAH, AND THEY WILL, I GUESS I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT MORE THAN BEING LIKE THEY WILL GIVE SOME SIMPLE HEALTH ADVICE, BUT THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AT THE LOGISTICS OF HOW TO GET THE CARE THAT YOU NEED, GET YOU CONNECTED TO CARE.

>>LORENE: THAT'S WONDERFUL, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO YOU.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS DR.

MIRANDA DURHAM, WHO IS THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>MIRANDA: THANKS FOR HAVING ME TODAY, IT WAS A PLEASURE.

>>LORENE: IT WAS WONDERFUL, WE LEARNED SO MUCH.

AND I'M LORENE MILLS.

I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, OUR AUDIENCE, FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

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