Over 100 on Tinian complete COVID-19 doses

TINIAN—A total of 128 front-liners, high-risk first responders, and persons 65 years and older completed their COVID-19 vaccine doses on Tinian last Feb. 14.

The New York Times compilation of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s data shows that the CNMI is ranked Top 5 for COVID-19 vaccination performance in terms of the percentage of people who have had at least one COVID-19 vaccination shot.

The Top 5, in order, are American Samoa, Palau, Alaska, Guam, and the CNMI.

The chart, which was updated last Feb. 14, shows that the CNMI has administered 29,650 first and second doses, using 45% of the vaccines that were allocated to the CNMI. The New York Times also recorded that 9.5% of the CNMI population has been given both shots.

In a telephone interview, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer Esther Muña said that 134 individuals on Tinian had their first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine this past weekend, while 128 have already completed their second dose.

At the 17th Annual Hot Pepper “Pika” Festival, emcee Santi “Big Boy” Sablan, announced that CHCC had a tent set up for Tinian residents to get registered for vaccination.

According to Muña, 20 homebound residents—10 on Saipan and 10 on Rota—were able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. It was learned that Rota is expected to start their second dose next Sunday.

As of Feb. 15, CHCC recorded on their dashboard that 8,486 people have received their first COVID-19 vaccine, and 4,485 have received their second dose. These include Phase 1B on Saipan, 1A on Tinian, and 1A on Rota.

As for the CNMI’s general population, it is still unclear when they will be able to receive their first dose.

COVID-19 in Guam

Guam ranked fourth place nationwide in terms of the percentage of people who have had at least one COVID-19 vaccination shot. Citing the New York Times compilation of U.S. CDC data, at least 16% of Guam’s population have already received the first dose, with 6% getting the second dose as of Feb. 13, 2021.

Guam has had a total of 51,300 doses delivered, 37,750 shots given and 74% of the doses used.

“There are many reasons for variation among the states and territories, including demand for the vaccine, lags in data reporting and other logistical challenges,” the New York Times stated.

Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero acknowledged Guam’s ranking and even quoted Gen. Gustave Perna, Operation Warp Speed’s chief operating officer, as saying that Guam is “crushing it out there.”

“We’re trying to get as many vaccines as we can because our logistics and our distribution infrastructure have greatly improved. I know there have been issues recently, but we took care of those immediately,” said Leon Guerrero during an interview with NewsTalk K57’s Patti Arroyo.