Vaccine to go to high school employees, folks with disabilities subsequent
The Division of Public Well being and Social Providers has determined to develop vaccine eligibility to high school employees, faculty bus drivers, the homeless and other people with disabilities, in keeping with Public Well being spokeswoman Janela Carrera.
She stated pictures for these residents are anticipated to start out someday in the course of the subsequent week.
The federal government’s vaccine advisory committee throughout its Wednesday assembly authorized expanded vaccination eligibility, Carrera stated. Public Well being to this point has provided vaccine pictures to well being care employees, residents 60 and older and significant authorities employees, together with legislation enforcement. A few of these folks have already got acquired their second required dose.
GALLERY:Pfizer vaccinations provided on the College of Guam
Public Well being continues to work on the logistics for expanded vaccinations, Carrera stated, including there are practically 2,100 faculty staff and bus drivers who could be eligible, together with about 300 staff at personal colleges. The objective is to vaccinate schooling staff who’ve a task in face-to-face instruction, she stated.
No new Public Well being vaccination clinics have been introduced.
Public Well being additionally should decide find out how to confirm vaccine eligibility for folks with disabilities, Carrera stated, together with what sorts of questions well being care officers can ask about their incapacity. She stated the expanded vaccination will embody people who find themselves taking part in care applications however are thought-about homeless. For instance, it will embody folks with dementia who haven’t any household right here, she stated.
Non-public suppliers
Schooling Superintendent Jon Fernandez stated Guam Regional Medical Metropolis and American Medical Heart is likely to be liable for vaccinating DOE staff, with GRMC vaccinating about 1,000 staff from northern colleges and AMC vaccinating greater than 600 staff from central and southern colleges.
He stated permitting the personal hospital and clinic to vaccinate schooling employees will liberate Public Well being to vaccinate different high-risk residents.
“They’re prepared to do it, however are ready for affirmation about vaccine availability,” Fernandez stated, including he hopes vaccinations for college employees will begin as early as Saturday.
“We’ve been pushing for vaccine for our college staff for a number of weeks now,” Fernandez stated.
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Private and non-private colleges resumed face-to-face instruction this week, with out vaccinations for college employees.
Public Well being has been providing vaccine pictures to eligible residents on the Southern Area Group Well being Heart, in Inarajan, however Carrera stated some residents have complained the location is simply too far. In consequence, Public Well being is contemplating opening one other first-dose clinic in a extra central location, she stated.
Vaccine doses
The 2 COVID-19 vaccines used on Guam, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, require two separate pictures a number of weeks aside.
Carrera stated a number of island clinics and pharmacies have already got acquired vaccine doses from Public Well being and might immunize sufferers in keeping with the federal government’s eligibility pointers. Extra clinics are ready for approval to manage the vaccine, she stated.
Carrera stated Public Well being presently expects to obtain solely 15,000 new vaccine doses every month — it already acquired the island’s January doses — however has requested federal officers to extend Guam’s allotment to 40,000 doses per thirty days.
Biden vaccine plan
President Joe Biden on Friday launched a stronger effort to vaccinate and take a look at the nation for COVID-19, however it’s unclear how these new insurance policies could be applied on Guam.
Amongst different issues, Biden has approved FEMA to turn into concerned within the vaccination course of, establishing vaccination facilities nationwide, supported by the Nationwide Guard.
In keeping with the governor’s workplace, it’s unclear if FEMA intends to arrange such a vaccination middle on Guam, and the island at the moment is not planning for one.
“Guam continues to obtain our month-to-month allotments of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and proceed with our vaccination plan,” stated governor’s spokeswoman Krystal Paco-San Agustin. “We proceed to be a frontrunner within the nation in terms of vaccinations administered.”
Maintain studying:Free COVID-19 vaccinations this week for residents 60 and older
