In the wake of new federal guidelines limiting the groups for whom new COVID-19 vaccines are approved, the New Mexico Department of Health plans to take action to remove "barriers to the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine."

The order, signed Friday by department Cabinet Secretary Gina DeBlassie, comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration only approved new vaccines for people ages 65 and older as well as some younger people with health conditions.

DeBlassie's order says "the currently available COVID-19 vaccines are safe" and that there is value in widespread vaccinations. It says her department will work with the state Board of Pharmacy and other state agencies to rewrite regulations to make COVID-19 vaccines more accessible as well as "issue guidance to providers, pharmacis

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