Guardsmen hold the line at Micronesia Mall vaccination clinic

Frontliners at the vaccination clinic at Micronesia Mall continue efforts. Members of the Guam National Guard spoke with KUAM to share how they've been battling the virus and continue to hold the line.

They've been on the front lines since the pandemic started, and they're still here working hard. Members of the Guam National Guard continue to vaccinate the people of our island and they'll keep at it.

Task Force Medical Specialist Christian Santos told KUAM News, "Definitely high spirits. It's definitely fulfilling seeing what we're doing for the community of Guam, for the people of Guam. Vaccinating our people, doing our swab testing, whatever capacity as a medic we can do for the community."

Task Force Medical Specialist Shawn Mendiola added that although being on the front lines is a challenge, it's nothing that the Guam National Guard can handle. COVID is just another mission for them to take on. "It's more so a team effort with us amongst the Guam Guard. We always make sure we're all in check. That we're all mentally prepared to take on the tasks for the day, whatever missions may come our way," he said.

With the COVID numbers on the rise again, Santos says that in order for the Guard to stay safe and keep their families safe, they still follow the three W's and they urge island residents to do the same. "Just regulatory precautions. Being around the public, the general public, whether they be asymptomatic, symptomatic, or having positive COVID, negative COVID. Definitely watching the three W's: washing your hands, watching your distance. I try to decon as much as possible before I go home, enter my house, see my family," he said.

In order to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, they must always stay on alert and that means having to sacrifice spending time with them.

Mendiola said, "Mainly just spending time with family who we haven't seen for quite a while throughout this whole pandemic. As much as I'd like to celebrate birthdays, specials occasions. It's been quite difficult but we gotta do what we have to do to get back to normal and hopefully we get there soon."

Residents who haven't gotten the vaccine yet can still do so at the Micronesia Mall vaccination clinic open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.