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CHCC looks at possible allergic reaction to COVID-19 vaccine
Three more test positive in NMI
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. is investigating a couple of people who have reported allergic reactions that could be related to the COVID-19 vaccine. This comes as three more people were confirmed positive for COVID-19 in the CNMI yesterday.
CHCC chief executive officer Esther Muña confirmed in a radio news briefing last Friday that CHCC is now looking into the case and have informed the affected individuals that they have to also report their symptoms to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and not just CHCC.
As of 8pm yesterday, Muña stated that they are reviewing the individuals’ health history and their investigation is ongoing.
After a person gets vaccinated, they are then registered on V-Safe, which is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and Web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins. According to the CDC, through V-Safe, you can instantly tell CDC if you have any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers, someone from CDC may call to check on you and get more information. V-safe will remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one.
“We are going to work with them on that, and actually evaluate those who are going to be seeing a provider today (Jan. 8) to determine whether that it is related to the vaccine they received,” said Muña.
According to Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services spokeswoman Janela Carrera, three people in Guam are being monitored after getting the shot last Dec. 18, 2020.
According to Carrera, one man had to be closely observed for about 45 minutes after he reported chest pains, but he claimed he was fine. He was also offered medical transport but refused it. One woman was observed closely for about 30 minutes. She had a history of hypertension and was fine afterward. Another woman had an allergic reaction and epinephrine, an adrenaline shot, was given, and she was then taken to the hospital.
In the CNMI, a total of 3,389 shots for the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given as of Jan. 11, and a total of 329 doses for the second dose have already been given.
Meantime, CHCC announced yesterday that three more individuals tested positive for COVID-19 in the CNMI, which brings the cumulative total to 128.
The three were identified by travel screening and confirmed diagnosis through testing upon arrival. They have been safely transferred to the quarantine site at Kanoa Resort in Susupe and were moved to the designated isolation area for close monitoring.
CHCC has already initiated contact tracing for the most immediate contacts of the new confirmed cases, including passengers on the same flight.
