Guam expects to receive vaccine supply for new COVID strain

Guam will also be getting a supply of the new COVID-19 vaccine but no details yet on when the shipments will arrive.

We spoke with Department of Public Health and Social Services medical director, Dr. Bob Leon Guerrero, who says unlike during the height of the pandemic, the shots won't be free for everyone.

"For Public Health, we're gonna be getting a supply of vaccines, the vaccines for children, we're gonna be getting vaccines for adults that are uninsured or no insurance and qualify for a certain program, I can't remember the acronym for that," he said. "So, for that population we'll be rolling it out."

For the rest of the community there will be a cost to get the vaccine,  how much will depend on your medical insurance company.

And while shots are recommended, Leon Guerrero adds that most on Guam already have a certain amount of protection.

"Currently, there are people who have got sick and have antibodies, there are people who got vaccinated and have antibodies, so it's not a new antibody per se, so people do have some form of protection from covid so it's not gonna be as drastic as when it first hit back in 2019," he said. 

For all intents and purposes, Guam is likely in an endemic phase, comparable to the annual flu season.

Still, Leon Guerrero says not to take it too lightly.

"Do I say don't worry, I never say don't worry," he said. "Cause we still have deaths. We had a five-month-old just about two or three months ago we've had a 7-year old, so we still have deaths with COVID."

And the precautions are ones we're all familiar with by now.

"Wear a mask if you don't want to catch it, wash your hand," Leon Guerrero said. "If somebody you know is sick try to avoid them, and those that are sick try not to come to work and shopping you know major shopping centers. Those will help decrease the amount of infections if people just follow those simple things.