Don’t Wait, Vaccinate: Health Officials Urge Parents to Keep Children’s Vaccinations up to Date Before School Starts

New Mexico health officials urged parents to update their children’s vaccinations before the first day of school to help keep classrooms healthy, KOAT reports.

The Department of Health said required vaccines protect against diseases such as measles, polio and whooping cough. Officials also recommended flu, COVID-19 and HPV vaccines ahead of the respiratory season, with the HPV vaccine recommended as a cancer prevention measure. Andrea Romero, the department’s immunization program manager, told KOAT that being up to date on vaccinations is the best protection, especially as children gather back in classrooms, where those diseases spread. State health officials reported that about 95% of students received the required school vaccines last year.

Many health care providers and public health offices statewide offer free vaccines to students up to 18 years old. Over the summer, the Got Shots? initiative, a joint effort of the Department of Health, the New Mexico Primary Care Association and the New Mexico Immunization Coalition, offered free vaccinations at more than 60 locations from June 13 through Aug. 29 for children from birth through age 18, according to the Department of Health. Officials said no insurance was required and no child would be turned away for lack of coverage.

The Department of Health says an interactive map and clinic finder is available on the state’s vaccine portal at vaccine.doh.nm.gov, and families can call the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833-796-8773) for help finding a site or scheduling care.

Editor’s note: Updated Oct. 31, 2026. This story is now part of Daily Reports, our New Mexico news roundup, and was revised to credit KOAT’s original reporting. Learn how Daily Reports works in our editorial standards.