89.9 FM Live From The University Of New Mexico
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NM Officials Eye Vaccines For Pneumonia Illness

Univ. of Melbourne
/
public domain

State health officials are encouraging adults to get vaccinations against a pneumonia-related illness hitting New Mexico.

The New Mexico Department of Health said this week that the vaccines for pneumococcal disease are now available at many doctors' offices.

Officials say so far this year, around 300 people in New Mexico have been diagnosed with severe pneumococcal disease and 47 have died from their infection.

Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Retta Ward says one out of three adults who are recommended to receive the vaccine have never been vaccinated against pneumococcal disease.