New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham went beyond endorsing a COVID-19 vaccine booster for all adults, saying she believes being fully vaccinated now means a person should have three shots.
At a virtual pandemic briefing, she said the definition of “fully vaccinated” changing to three shots would reflect concerns that COVID-19 vaccines start losing their effectiveness after about six months.
“We know vaccinations are the most effective tool to both blunting the spread of the virus and to protecting ourself and our families,” she said. “So we are analyzing what we can do to create those incentives—and potentially mandates—for making sure that people are fully vaccinated, which means three vaccines.”
New Mexico Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase, during the same briefing, said discussions are underway about changing the definition of what it means to be fully vaccinated and that he expects a new public health order in the coming weeks.
Booster doses of all three vaccine types—Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson—have been cleared for use in the United States.
Nearly 74 percent of New Mexico adults are considered fully vaccinated under the current definition of two doses of the mRNA vaccines—Pfizer and Moderna—and one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
However, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky has suggested the definition of fully vaccinated may change in the future.
Meanwhile, those aged 18 or older, “may receive a booster shot” at least six months after completing the primary series of shots if they have underlying medical conditions or are often in long-term care settings or high-risk settings, the CDC states.
