The Department of Public Health and Social Services is working on its plan to vaccinate people with disabilities at government clinics, but until then those residents are eligible to get vaccine shots at pharmacies and private clinics that already have received doses, said Public Health spokeswoman Janela Carrera.
“For (private) clinics, we don’t impose restrictions on them as long as they meet the eligibility criteria,” Carrera said, noting the Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Policy Committee last week approved vaccine eligibility for people with disabilities.
The government has not provided any guidance on how to determine a patient has a disability.
Receive the first dose of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine:
Jan. 19-23, at the Department of Public Health and Social Services Southern Region Community Health Center in Inarajan; or
Jan. 23, at Okkodo High School in Dededo.
For residents 75 and older who received the first dose of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine, receive the second dose:
Jan. 18-19, at Okkodo High School in Dededo; or
Jan. 20-21, at the University of Guam field house in Mangilao.
Residents receiving a second dose must bring their immunization card.
Criteria
not currently infected with COVID-19 or exposed within the last 14 days; and
not have received any other vaccine, like the flu shot, in the last 14 days.
Doctors are hoping the public will get COVID-19 vaccines so the island can achieve herd immunity.
Here are answers to questions from a Guam Department of Education town hall virtual meeting, facilitated by Dr. Luis Cruz, Guam Army Guard battalion surgeon, and Dr. Felix Cabrera, medical officer at the Department of Public Health and Social Services.
Should I take the vaccine?
According to the doctors, yes. Even with (just) the first dose, after about two weeks, you likely have at least 50% immunity, Cabrera said. To get to the 95% is why you need the second shot.
For the Pfizer shot, you wait a three week interval, and for Moderna, four weeks.
The $168 million difference accounts for plans to reopen in-person classes. The largest increases are in salaries and benefits, which indicate the new positions that are being requested, Fernandez said at a Guam Education Board meeting.
Full-time and substitute teacher salaries will be $229 million. Fernandez said the agency expects to allocate 60% to 65% of local funds to staff salaries, but that usually increases to 80% once funds are distributed.
In the budget, one of the largest requests is for capital improvements. Fernandez said the education board will assign funds to special education busing, expansion for early childhood education and the conversion of Chief Brodie Elementary School to middle school.
15 of 506 test positive for COVID-19; Guam total at 7,444
Staff Reports
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The Joint Information Center reported new cases of COVID-19 identified out of 506 tests performed Jan. 12.
Three cases were identified through contact tracing and two reported recent travel history and were identified in quarantine, according to the Joint Information Center.
The island now has a total of 7,444 officially reported cases of COVID-19. There have been 124 deaths with 112 cases in active isolation. Three are in ICU and three are on ventilators.
The Guam Fire Department confirmed two firefighters assigned to the Astumbo Fire Station tested positive for COVID-19. The other personnel have been quarantined until they can be tested. Pending test results, an alternate crew has been assigned to ensure the continuity of response operations, the Joint Information Center reported.