Presbyterian Senior Care (HMO) and Presbyterian MediCare PPO | Summer 2021 | Your Story

Schedule your vaccine today! If you still have not gotten your COVID-19 shot, don’t delay. Sign up today at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) COVID-19 vaccine registration site. When it is your turn to get the shot, you will be notified and can make an appointment at a location near you. Visit the NMDOH vaccine registration site at cvvaccine.nmhealth.org to get scheduled. www.phs.org/Medicare 3 2 Share facts—but ask first. Sometimes people just need accurate information to help them make up their minds. But ask for permission to share what you know. They may be more open to listening and less likely to be defensive that way. It may help hesitant people to know that: ● The Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are nearly 100 percent effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. ● Most side effects are mild (like a sore arm or tiredness). Some people have no side effects at all. Serious allergic reactions are rare. ● While the COVID-19 vaccines are new, scientists have been working with the technology for mRNA and viral vector vaccines for more than 20 years. ● Diverse groups of people took part in the vaccine studies. ● By far, most doctors who have been offered the vaccines have taken them. ● COVID-19 vaccines are free. 3 Help them find their why. Why did you choose to be vaccinated? Some people do it because they want to be safer or to be able to spend time with their grandkids. Others just want to help the world move a little closer to normal. Sharing your reasons with your loved ones might help them to identify theirs. And it doesn’t hurt to remind them that you love and care about them—and want them to be healthy and safe. 4 Offer to help navigate the system. Maybe your friend is willing to get a vaccine but doesn’t know how to get an appointment—or it isn’t easy for them to access the booking system. Could you offer to help? If you’ve already been vaccinated, you know the ropes. And helping to set up the appointment may be quicker, easier, and less stressful for you. 5 Know when to press pause . If either of you becomes upset, take a break from the discussion. Maybe you’ll be able to pick it up in a more positive way later. Maybe not. But whatever your loved one decides, you still want to have a good relationship when all is said and done. Why isn’t a vaccine a free pass? It may be possible to get and spread the virus after you’re vaccinated, even if you don’t have symptoms. And we are still learning how well the vaccines guard against new and more infectious virus variants. Until we know more about these things, it’s best to play it safe. Vaccine hub serves thousands of New Mexicans The Presbyterian Vaccination Hub Albuquerque opened on March 3 to expand vaccinations to more eligible New Mexicans. With this site, as well as a drive-thru Vaccination Hub at Albuquerque Ambulance Service, Presbyterian continues our work in providing vaccines for those who qualify under the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) criteria. Both sites are by registration only. Individuals who have registered with the NMDOH COVID-19 vaccine registration site will be notified by the NMDOH when their vaccine is available. NMDOH will assign a clinic based on location. “Providing safe, effective vaccines to as many New Mexicans as possible is our best hope of ending this pandemic together,” says Carolyn Green, RN, chief nursing officer, Presbyterian Healthcare Services. “We continue to expand our own vaccination sites, as well as increase our ability to vaccinate high-risk patients in our clinics. We are thrilled to provide more vaccines to our community.” For more information, visit www.phs.org/vaccine .