52.1% of American Samoa’s eligible population is fully vaccinated

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A “Vaccine Station” sign indicates one of the areas were the COVID-19 vaccination doses were given out last Friday at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium vaccination site. Everyone inside the auditorium was required to wear a face mask.

Residents are told — among other things — the type of COVID-19 vaccine that will be given to them — Pfizer or Moderna — asked whether they have allergies, and told of the possible sides-affects of the vaccine. A resident getting the vaccine is also given the Q&A information sheet on the vaccine they will be receiving.

A vaccination card is also given to the individual, which includes information on when to return for the second dose. Using the card will allow easy access to the second dose, although if you lose the card, you can use a photo ID.

After getting a shot, the individual is then directed to a resting area, to wait for about 15-minutes to see if there are any immediate side-affects.

Medical professionals at the Lee Auditorium site last Friday were from LBJ Medical Center and the Health Department.

A Samoa News staff member, who was given the Pfizer vaccine, was able to spend about 25 minutes at this vaccine site, as there wasn’t a large crowd present, as in the past, although there were a good number of residents showing up to take the vaccine, heeding the call by health officials, the governor and the COVID Task Force — for all those who qualify to get vaccinated.

At the Department of Youth and Women’s Affairs (DYWA) vaccination site last Friday, it was reportedly a busy day, where those who got their shots included local US Army Reservists. COVID-19 Vaccination Teams from DoH and VA — and vaccine teams also went to the Territorial Correctional Facility.

New data publicly released by DoH last Friday morning shows that as of Apr. 22, (Thursday), 61.5% of the eligible population — 16 years of age and older — had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Furthermore, 52.1% of the eligible population (or 17,306 people) are fully vaccinated.  Total eligible population for the vaccination program is 33,206 people.

Anyone with questions on the vaccination may call DOH COVID-19 Hotline at 219 or email: [email protected]

Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in a joint national news release last Friday afternoon the lifting of the pause placed on the use of the Janssen COVID-19 (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.

Following a thorough safety review, including two meetings of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the FDA and CDC have determined that the recommended pause regarding the use of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine in the U.S. should be lifted and use should resume.

The pause was recommended after reports of six cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals following administration of the J&J vaccine.

The two agencies have determined — that among other things — the FDA and CDC have confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19 and that the FDA has determined that the available data show that the vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older.

(Full details of the news release along with the recommendation for health care providers available and other information on the CDC website www.cdc.gov)

American Samoa received last month a total of 600 doses of the Janssen vaccine and it was put on hold until further notice. It’s unknown if the vaccine will be offered locally.