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‘80-85% is herd immunity target’
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Posted on Jun 29 2021
Herd immunity in the CNMI can be claimed once 80-85% of the population that are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccines have been fully vaccinated, according to Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer Esther Muña.
As of press time yesterday, 63.5% of the CNMI’s population that are eligible to receive vaccinations are already fully vaccinated. Even when the number was still at just 63.2% last Sunday, Muña said this was already “significant,” and was made possible through “the community’s tremendous help to get where we are today.”
Herd immunity refers to a form of indirect disease/infection protection that is achieved when a certain percentage of a population has become immune to an infection either through vaccination or past exposure to an infection/disease, significantly reducing the chances of community spread and allowing those with no immunity to remain healthy without receiving a vaccine shot or being exposed to disease.
CHCC’s goal of 80-85% of the CNMI’s eligible population being fully vaccinated will allow those who cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccine—such as infants or those with compromised immune systems—to be protected from the virus.
When asked about reaching the goal of 80-85% full vaccination, Muña said “we are confident that we will reach our goal.”
When asked for her overall outlook as to how the CNMI has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic thus far, Muña said it has been several months now since Saipan’s last case of community spread, and the CNMI’s handling of the pandemic was largely made possible through the cooperation and support of the community, “the dedication and performance of our first responders, and the services of our partners.”
On the topic of reopening the CNMI to tourists, Muña said that “slowly opening up is the best approach,” and advised to remain cautious while the CNMI inches toward having 80-85% of eligible individuals fully vaccinated.
