Today was the final callout for all healthcare professionals and first responders under Phase One A to receive the vaccine before clinic doors close. A re-opening date has not been announced, but the second dose is expected to be administered the first week of the New Year.

"Even though it's not 100%, every single percent counts and it could prevent someone's grandma from getting the disease," explained Aaron Arizala. To protect our community, this was his reason for making his way to Okkodo High School this afternoon to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Arizala tells KUAM when the public health emergency hit, he was fresh out of college and he rose to the challenge.

Throughout the pandemic, Arizala worked under the Department of Public Health's COVID Response Unit providing case investigation and contract tracing assistance. He says his life has completely changed, adding, "This year has been quite challenging but I'm pushing through it and I believe that we are going to get through this. And we are all going to grow out of this and learn from our experience."

Also reflecting on the past year after getting vaccinated, veterinarian at Wise Owl Animal Hospital Genevieve Weaver is hopeful for a more prosperous 2021. "It was a very busy, exhausting year but we are ready for it to be behind us now. And we are moving forward. I am hoping 2021 is much more positive year and I think with the vaccine, we are crossing our fingers that this will start to make a different," she said.

Eager to be vaccinated, Guam Department of Education administrator Eleuterio Mesa stopped by the clinic to see if he meets Phase one A qualifications.

"It's a deadly disease and I want to make sure when I deal with students and people at DOE, I'm clear. And I won't be a carrier or spreading the virus," he shared. "And even though students at that young age, they have a stronger immune system but I don't have that stronger immune system. The scary part is that people are asymptomatic, they look normal as if they don't have any disease and then they are carriers and can spread it to you."

While Mesa has to wait a bit longer, he just looks forward to the day he can be reunited with friends and family to dance.

"I love dancing, I like to go dancing and I can't so I have to dance by myself," he said.

One step closer to some normalcy, DPHSS immunization advisor Dr. Bob Leon Guerrero received one of the first vaccines on Guam last week. He reports no adverse reactions. "I feel fine. My arm was a little sore the night and I just put some ice I was fine the next morning," he described.

While there are short-term side effects detected, people remain skeptical because of the unknown long term effects. But as Dr. Bob explains, a known potential long-term effect of the coronavirus is death.

"COVID-19 is sometimes you can long term effects and for those unfortunate people, 100-plus people that have died. I mean, there is no more long-term effect than death itself. And vaccines, there hasn't been reported any deaths. And the other long-term effects we wait and see but being alive is a lot better," he said.

In just a couple weeks, Dr. Bob will be getting the second dose of the vaccine, as he noted, "I can't wait to be out of this. I can't wait to get it because of the likelihood of me being immune and I can start doing things that I normally would like to do before the COVID-19." Asked what the first thing he's going to do in the New Year, he replied, "My wife and I need to go off-island for medical, so in January we are going off and we will feel a lot safer because we have gotten the vaccine."