Long lines form as residents receive second vaccine dose

If you were in the Dededo area today, you may have seen or found yourself caught in endless lines leading to Okkodo High. Tyler Matanane reports on DPHSS's first day of their three-day vaccination clinic.

They're joining the vacciNATION. This morning, from 9 a.m. to noon, the Department of Public Health and Social Services administered the second round of the Pfizer vaccine to Phase 1A individuals consisting of healthcare workers. Afternoon vaccinations continued until 3 p.m. servicing the first dose to Phase 1C.
After meeting on Monday, the Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Policy Committee agreed to modify the Phase 1c category to lower the previous age range from 65-74 to 60-74. DPHSS PIO Janela Carrera said the reason for lowering the minimum age was because they recognized that many of those that have fallen severely ill or have died due to COVID complications are over the age of 60.

At just 9 a.m., lines already began to extend past the Guam Regional Medical City to the Micronesia Mall, and by the afternoon, in the opposite direction, the line for vaccination went past Fatima Mobile.
Three very familiar faces, DPHSS Director Art San Agustin, Zenia Pecina the first nurse to be vaccinated on Guam, and Pediatrician Dr. Bob Leon Guerrero shared their thoughts on receiving the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

"I'm excited I mean the first time it was very emotional but this time I'm very excited," Pacina said.

"I really want to ask the community to come out and get their vaccine for first and second dose protect themselves, protect the family, and protect our community," San Agustin said.

"Get your shots. Get vaccinated, protect yourselves, your family, and our community... save a life," Leon Guerrero said. 

Today, DPHSS also began servicing homebound individuals that meet the Phase 1A and 1C criteria.

Those who were waiting in line in their cars were offered an alternate location for the vaccine, Carrera said.

"GRMC partnered with us to vaccinate those 60 and older 150 of them waiting were sent to GRMC. We want to thank GRMC for assisting us in this effort and stepping up to vaccinate our manamko'," she said.

For those in quarantine that fall into those categories, however, Carrera says they will have to wait until they are no longer in quarantine due to the fact that the virus may already be in their system. In the meantime, they can get on the DPHSS priority list by contacting Public Health and once they clear quarantine, they will be serviced at the next available vaccination clinic. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero also made an appearance,

As for the change in PCOR status, the governor said we can see that change by the time schools reopen.

"But you know I always have to condition this on the basis of if we keep our car score down because that's very key," she said. "Let's not forget you know that we still need to test people and we're still testing we still ended to isolate people we still ended to quarantine people until we get immunity in the community."

The vaccination clinic will continue until Saturday following the same schedule of Phase 1A being serviced from 9 a.m.- noon and Phase 1C from noon to 3  p.m. all at the Okkodo campus.


Public Health also wanted to warn the community to beware of scams related to COVID-19 vaccinations and Medicare. Carrera responded saying "You don't need to give your personal information. You do not need to give your financial information because Medicare does provide the vaccine for free."