Guam gets 1st batch of vaccines

The first batch of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech, arrived in Guam yesterday via a United Airlines flight, while the CNMI awaits confirmation that it will receive the vaccine tomorrow, Dec. 17.

Guam received its first batch of vaccines after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued its Emergency Use Authorization for Pfizer’s vaccine last week.

Annette Aguon, Guam’s Department of Public Health and Social Services COVID-19 Epidemiology/Surveillance Branch lead, stated in a YouTube video that the first people to receive the initial vaccines are health care workers and residents in Guam’s long-term care facilities.

As for the CNMI, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer Esther Muña, said that CHCC plans to hold a vaccination on Saturday if the vaccines arrive on Thursday.

Aguon stated that Guam received a total of 3,900 of the first batch, “Dose A.” This will be for health care workers and residents of Guam’s long- term care facilities.

Aguon said that DPHSS will work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and CDC’s Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Policy Committee to determine their order of vaccination. DPHSS will then coordinate in conducting where the health care providers will be inoculated, while the Guam Memorial Hospital and Guam Regional Medical City will receive their allotments to vaccinate their personnel within their facility.

When asked how she feels about being one of the leads of the execution process, Aguon said she is both anxious and excited. “We’re always about vaccine saving and protecting lives. This is about flatting the curve and to protect our people, so that the light is at the end of the tunnel to prevent future cases of COVID-19,” said Aguon.

She added that safety is a priority when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as any other vaccines, and they will be offering a screening before anyone will receive the vaccine. That means testing first for any allergic reaction to the vaccine.

The nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine began arriving in states Monday morning, after the government gave the final go-ahead to the shots needed to end an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans.

Trucks will roll out Sunday morning as shipping companies UPS and FedEx begin delivering Pfizer’s vaccine to nearly 150 distribution centers across the states, said Army Gen. Gustave Perna of Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration’s vaccine development program. An additional 425 sites will get shipments Tuesday, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday.

Initially, about 3 million doses were expected to be shipped nationwide. It was unclear exactly who would receive the first shots, though health care workers and nursing home residents were the priority. Perna said health authorities would decide.

A similar number of shots will be held back for those recipients’ second dose, which is needed for full protection from COVID-19.

Perna compared the vaccine distribution effort to D-Day, the U.S.-led military offensive that turned the tide in World War II.

“D-Day was the beginning of the end and that’s where we are today,” Perna said a news conference. But he added that it would take months of work and “diligence, courage and strength to eventually achieve victory.” (With AP)