NEWS
New Mexico keeps regular vaccine schedule despite Trump order
Health officials say childhood vaccine recommendations and insurance coverage remain unchanged
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New Mexico is still advising that children receive the normal vaccine schedule after the Trump administration鈥檚 Monday executive order, which called for paring down the number of recommended vaccines and spacing out existing shots.
鈥淗ere in New Mexico, nothing has changed,鈥� said Dr. Miranda Durham, chief medical officer for the New Mexico Department of Health.
Durham said NMDOH follows the American Academy of Pediatrics childhood vaccine schedule, which makes all vaccines available to parents if they choose. Insurance coverage for vaccines will not change either 鈥� New Mexico Medicaid plans and private insurance will continue to cover childhood vaccines regardless of the executive order, she said.
NMDOH continues to recommend 17 different vaccines, including shots protecting against hepatitis A and B, influenza and COVID-19, though the White House鈥檚 executive order cut the list down to 11.
Trump also advocated for splitting the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three separate shots, to be administered at different times. The single-shot MMR vaccine has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for safe use since 1971.
NMDOH will continue to administer the MMR vaccine all at once, Durham said.
鈥淪plitting it up 鈥� really offers no advantages,鈥� Durham said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no safety difference. It鈥檚 just more visits, more pokes, more time off of work, more time schlepping your kid to the doctor.鈥�
Regardless of the executive order, the MMR vaccine is not even manufactured as three different shots, she added.
鈥淓ven if, as a doctor, you wanted to order a single antigen vaccine, one that just covers measles, it鈥檚 not available in the U.S.,鈥� Durham said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure it鈥檚 available anywhere.鈥�
Measles cases in the U.S. are at a 35-year high, and flu season is rapidly approaching, so New Mexico health officials are advocating that patients be protected.
鈥淥ur message remains the same: The science is clear 鈥� vaccines are safe, effective and save children鈥檚 lives,鈥� Durham said.
Families looking for guidance on vaccines can call the NMDOH help line at 1-833-796-8773 or text 66364 to speak with a medical professional who can answer their questions, Durham said. She recommends that parents visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website for guidance and talk to their family physician.
Natalie Robbins covers education for the Journal. You can reach her at nrobbins@abqjournal.com.
