
The Deming district is listed as having 5,437 students, and only one student has a vaccine exemption.
Luna County statistics are similar: Luna County’s population of children between the ages of four and 18 – school age children – is listed as 5,338, with only one vaccine exemption.
New Mexico law requires children be vaccinated to attend school, but it allows exemptions for medical and religious reasons. Schools are required to maintain records of the child’s immunization records or their exemption forms.
The Santa Fe and Albuquerque public school districts announced that school children would have to be up to date on their immunizations or have a vaccine exemption form in order to continue attending school.
State Secretary of Health Retta Ward is encouraging other schools districts to follow their lead.
In a letter to superintendents and charter school directors, Ward reminded school leaders of their responsibilities to ensure school children are in compliance with the law.