Health fairs plan senior vaccinations

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - The New Mexico Department of Health and community groups are launching a campaign to get more senior citizens vaccinated for pneumonia, influenza and pertussis.

Officials are slated in the coming months to host 10 health fairs in northern New Mexico for the vaccinations.

The Truchas Senior Center and the Alcalde Senior Center are among the placed scheduled to host fairs.

Health officials say pneumonia and influenza are major causes of illness and death among Hispanics, accounting for more than 3,000 hospitalizations and 240 deaths per year among New Mexicans age 65 and older.

Six vaccine clinics took place in Rio Arriba County in 2011, with 552 vaccines administered.