A fully vaccinated man from New Mexico has died from COVID-19 earlier this month.
Lawrence Tafoya, 74, left behind 6 children and 8 grandchildren, according to KOB4, one of just 59 other New Mexicans who have died after getting the vaccination between February and October 2021.
"We were so confident that he had the vaccine, and he's healthy, no underlying conditions, he's in the hospital so what more could you do for him?" Lawrence's son Daniel Tafoya told KOB4. "We didn't have an opportunity to say goodbye or say anything. ... We didn't believe that this could happen. And so when it did, it didn't make sense."
Another 864 New Mexicans who have not been vaccinated have died during that same timeframe due to the virus, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.
Medical professionals believe cases like Tafoya's are rare. Dr. Mark Epstein, CEO of True Health New Mexico, says that 95% of New Mexico residents that have died are unvaccinated.
"The virus is relentless,” Epstein said. “It will continue to take advantage of opportunities wherever it can."