Local COVID-19 pro-vaxers and anti-vaxers dig in to their positions
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — While the numbers of confirmed COVID cases in the community continue to climb each and everyday, two sides of the issue to vaccinate or not continues to echo through the community.
Leading the call to vaccinate and get boosted to protect themselves from serious illness and hospitalization are Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga, the Health department (DoH) and members of the Task Force. The governor also issued a mandate last year, calling for all government employees to be vaccinated against COVID by Jan. 14, or they will have to take a leave of absence — paid or unpaid, depending on the type of leave the employee has.
On the other side are those who choose not to be vaccinated, and they continue to do so — citing freedom to choose, medical issues, and religious reasons, etc.
This past Monday, the Governor addressed for the first time those who refuse to vaccinate, saying, “While you have the right to choose, my question is where is the love? Love for your children and love for your family and the territory.”
Lemanu continued, “You may have chosen not to vaccinate and publicized your position — but you are only thinking of yourself and not considering the wellbeing of others.”
The Governor said the territory must move forward and must adapt to suit the situation we have now that COVID has reached our shores.
He said the public has a role to play and so too does the government.
In the meantime, DoH Chief Epidemiologist Dr Aifili John Tufa revealed during this week’s report that the number of positive cases so far does not accurately reflect the spread of COVID because many more may have the virus but have not been identified.
TO BE VACCINATED OR NOT
Margret Fonoti of Pavaiai said, “It’s time for people who refuse to take the vaccine to learn the truth about the vaccinations because these vaccines are safer than almost all [other] drugs.”
Ms. Fonoti’s advice to people who refuse to take the vaccine is simple, “If you stop listening to rumors and propaganda outlets on social media, and actually look for the truth in mainstream media, you can find it.”
However, Farah Alatini of Malaeimi said, “Even God our Creator, He gives us a choice to choose and everyone should have the right to choose what is to be injected into their body.”
She said that people nowadays are being criticized for speaking up, criticized for trying to exercise their right to choose.
“We all have rights and we have the right to exercise that right. So, let’s respect those who choose otherwise, even if it’s not what we want,” Alatini concluded.
Taulaga Talia agreed with Mrs. Alatini’s opinion. He said that if a person choose not to get vaccinated, “it’s really your choice and we have nothing to do about it.”
He continued, “God’s Will prevails. But until His Kingdom returns, please make wise choices and we should continue to pray for one another, vaccinated or not.”
A retired teacher, Harry Salima advised the Task Force to take a close look at claims spread by people who refuse to get vaccinated that local people have died from the COVID-19 vaccination.
Salima said he understands people have their constitutional rights, however, spreading misinformation that local people have died from the COVID-19 vaccination, he said, “then we’re looking at a big problem because this is clearly defamation of character.”
He further stated that if any person wants to exercise his or her rights against the vaccine, that’s their own personal decision to make, but when it comes down to this situation of giving out false and unfounded information, then something needs to be done.
Uelese Fatu, a 45-year-old father who still refuses to get vaccinated said that people have the right to know everything about the vaccine and they also have the right to say no.
“So, I urge our government leaders to please, slow down with your vaccine mandates and give room to the people to understand more about the vaccine before they decide what to do,” Fatu said.
DoH director, Motusa Tuileama Nua has repeatedly said during many Task Force press conferences that the DoH wants to assure the public that COVID-19 shots are safe and protect people, families, and the community from the severe consequences of COVID -19.
And, according to the Task Force, before someone takes the vaccine, health officials explain to that person the effects a person can experience from vaccination. Health officials also encourage everyone to see a doctor right away if they observe these symptoms.
The Task Force has further explained that there are people who experienced minor affects from the vaccine and a report was filed with the CDC about these incidents.
Of last year’s vaccine mandate issued by Gov. Lemanu requiring ASG employees to provide proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 or be placed on leave until they provide proof of vaccination or until the emergency is over, two ASG employees confirmed to Samoa News that they took annual leave starting on Jan. 14 because they’re part of a small group of employees who refuse to get vaccinated.
Up until now, these ASG employees are still on leave and continue to refuse to be vaccinated.
And then there is the local group called “Amerika Samoa Ala Mai” (ASAM) that held three protests last year, in several locations, in an effort to deliver their message.
According to the group’s spokesperson, Tauva Esera-Mauga, they’re not against COVID-19 vaccinations, but they are against the mandate for ASG workers to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Esera-Mauga explained to Samoa News during an interview last year that they want people to make their own decisions about COVID-19 vaccinations instead of being forced to take the shots.
She said health authorities should inform and answer questions from the public about all aspects of COVID-19 vaccines including their negative impacts on the health of people.
She claimed that several people have died locally, some very young, after getting the COVID-19 shots. (Samoa News should point out that no proof was offered to verify this claim by Esera-Mauga.)
Amerika Samoa Ala Mai is dead set against the mandate by the Governor for ASG workers to get vaccinated as a condition of keeping their jobs as well as it being a condition for joining the ASG workforce as a new hire.
Esera-Mauga believes everyone knows this violates their individual rights but they’re afraid to speak up.