The Epidemiology and Response Division, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Bureau (IDEB) will work to increase the percentage of New Mexico adults aged 65 years and older who have ever received a pneumococcal vaccination.
In 2017, IDEB raised awareness about invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in New Mexico by presenting information in a variety of settings to different groups. Presentations to the New Mexico Immunization Coalition, New Mexico Immunization Practices Advisory Committee, Crownpoint Service Unit Medical Providers, and other groups that focused on IPD and pneumonia and influenza death rates were successful. The implementation of House Bill 274 as a new law has involved collaboration between IDEB, the NMDOH Public Health Division Immunization Program, the NMDOH Division of Health Improvement, HealthInsight New Mexico, and the New Mexico Hospital Association. IDEB has also engaged the large health insurance carriers in the state (Presbyterian, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Molina) to get pneumococcal vaccination rate data for people 65 years of age and older.