SANTA FE (KAMR/KCIT) — The New Mexico Department of Health is stressing the importance of getting respiratory vaccines following the arrival of flu season.

According to NMDOH, the arrival of flu season is also followed by an uptick in COVID and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the state.

The health department said it is partnering with the University of New Mexico Health System in an effort to remind people, “Don’t Wait, Vaccinate,” with the goal of stressing the importance of getting respiratory vaccines and also making it easier to find places to get the necessary shots. 

“So, how to best take care of yourself is get vaccinated,” said Meghan Brett, MD, the hospital epidemiologist at UNM Hospital and associate professor of adult infectious diseases in the UNM School of Medicine. “That helps reduce your risk for infections, including severe infections. I would also say wash your hands, and if you are sick, please wear a mask. Consider staying home as well, so you don’t spread germs to other people.”

Information on the flu, COVID and RSV can be found by following UNM Hospital’s social media pages.

More from the recent update on fall and winter respiratory illnesses from UNM Health, NMDOH, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Lovelace Health System and Christus St. Vincent can be found here.

For resources to learn about where flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available, check the Vaccine.gov website.