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Vaccination sites open today — drive-thru tomorrow

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reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a health advisory this week, the Health Department said that DoH and VA medical teams will continue COVID-19 vaccination today at the Department of Youth and Women’s Affairs facility in Tafuna, Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium and Tafuna Primary Clinic. No vaccinations set for today at the Executive Office Building in Utulei.

Clinic hours are from 8a.m. to 3p.m. and both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available today. DoH says that individuals 16 years and older will get the Pfizer vaccine and 18 years and older get the Moderna vaccine. 

Reminders from DoH, if you are getting your first dose, bring your photo ID and hospital card. If you do not have a hospital card, bring two photo IDs.

Bring your COVID-19 vaccine card if you are coming back for a second dose. If you cannot find your vaccine card, a new one will be provided for you if you bring your photo ID.

Individuals are reminded to let registration and nurses know if you have had a flu shot or any other shot in the past two weeks.

For the Janssen vaccine, DoH said it would announced in the near future information on the vaccine sites.

For those who are homebound and want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, DoH is asking that you call 219. Homebound individuals are those who have limited mobility such as the physically disabled, bedridden, bed or wheelchair bound, and the elderly who may have difficulty coming into the regular vaccine clinic sites.

For the popular Drive-Thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic, the next one is tomorrow, Saturday, May 15th at the Pago Pago International Airport parking lot.

The COVID-19 Task Force is urging the public to get vaccinated and the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce posted messages on its Facebook page promoting vaccinations and where to get the doses.

Meanwhile, territorial officials are reportedly awaiting official notification from the US Centers for Diseases Control and Prevetion (CDC), for use of the Pfizer vaccine on 12- through 15-year-old adolescents.

In a national statement yesterday morning CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, says that CDC now recommends that this vaccine be used for this age group and providers may begin vaccinating them right away. (See www.cdc.gov for details of this news release and other information including yesterday’s announcement that in most situations, masks are no longer required for those who are fully vaccinated.)