Gov calls for vaccination updates from agencies and departments

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As the community spread of the deadly COVID-19 continues to increase — reaching 94 as of Tuesday night, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga has requested Executive Branch departments, agencies and offices to provide updated vaccination records of employees to Human Resources no later than this Friday, Mar. 4.

“Updating the vaccination status of your personnel is critical to our response efforts and will inform our next course of action,” the governor said in a Feb. 28 memorandum to executive branch cabinet directors.

With the increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases, “we as government leaders must take necessary action to ensure the safety of our workforce, as well as the public that we serve,” the governor said.

“Precautionary measures and safety protocols must be in full effect in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19,” he said, and points out that per U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most effective preventative measure against COVID-19 is “vaccination”.

The governor then gave his cabinet directors, no later than Mar. 4 to submit an updated vaccination record to DHR, which is charged with keeping records and overseeing the vaccination program of executive branch employees.

“As public servants, it is incumbent upon us to be exemplars of the safety guidelines set by CDC and promote best practices that minimize transmission, prevent infection and save lives,” the governor informed directors. “Your full support and cooperation are crucial in keeping our Territory safe.”

The governor’s previous COVID-19 emergency declarations, required that all executive branch employees to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 14 this year and if unvaccinated, to also provide exemptions to the mandate.

The last available public information from the Administration early this year shows that of the 5,000-plus executive branch workforce, just over 4,000 are fully vaccinated and there were exemptions granted. 

With American Samoa under Code Red threat level, all ASG offices are closed, with remote working from home being encouraged. Essential workers are exempted in the governor’s Code Red directive.

Check the ASG website — www.americansamoa.gov — which lists all ASG agencies and their respective websites for email contacts for each department/ agency for public inquiries. Several departments are also on Facebook.