Proof of residence, citizenship not required to get COVID-19 vaccine in U.S. New Mexico

U.S. state of New Mexico Department of Health officials said they won't verify the residence or citizenship when distributing COVID-19 vaccines, reported Xinhua, quoting local media Saturday.

Local TV station KFOX14 quoted state officials as saying that they also would not share registrants' information on immigration status with the federal government.

On Friday, officials from the border city of El Paso made a similar promise, adding that the city doesn't want to discourage undocumented individuals living in El Paso from getting the vaccine.

El Paso is a small U.S. city sits on the border with Mexico.

The New Mexico Department of Health released its distribution plan for Phases 1B, 1C, and 2 for the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday.

According to the plan, the vaccine will be available for those who are 75 years of age or older, individuals 16 or older with underlying medical conditions that place them at greater risk for COVID-19, frontline essential workers and vulnerable populations.