You Are Invited — “Protect AS One - Festival”

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The acting governor, Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo V. Ale is inviting the public to the “Protect AS One - Festival”.

The festival — set for tomorrow, Saturday, at the Veterans Memorial Stadium from 4p.m to 8p.m — is the culmination of several weeks work, since May of this year when the COVID-19 vaccination campaign kicked off, with the support of the private sector to get the territory’s population vaccinated, said Talauega.

The festival is a partnership with the private sector — led by the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, the vaccination campaign included village outreach and the vaccination raffle that concluded last week, awarding total cash prizes of $218,000 and electronics to 125 raffle winners, under four separate categories.

During the news conference, Attorney General, Fainu’ulelei Falefatu Alailima-Utu provided details of the raffle conducted over a four-week period, and a handout information sheet distributed to reporters and others provided similar information.

The government had allocated $250,000 for the raffle funded with COVID money from the Governor’s Office.

Talauega shared the latest data on vaccinations saying that as of Aug. 9th, some 25,637 residents or 54.1% of the eligible population have been fully vaccinated with two shots. Also as of Aug. 9th only 28,836 local residents have received one-shot.

He was joined by the chairperson and vice chair of the Chamber of Commerce, along with leaders of the Health Department, local Homeland Security Department and LBJ Medical Center in urging the community to get vaccinated with the goal of 80% or more.

On behalf of the governor, the task force, and ASG, the acting governor publicly expressed appreciation and thanks to the community, villages and church leaders and the private sector for their support in the government’s efforts to get people vaccinated.

For tomorrow’s festival, vaccinations will also be available there, and the  DOH Vaccination buses will be en route to the Stadium providing free transport to anyone going to the festival. The buses are easily identified with the COVID-19 vaccination “banner” on the side of the bus.