Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Just over 2,000 children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old, were vaccinated for COVID-19 between Dec. 1st and 3rd, according to the latest Health Department data, which was also part of the DoH presentation during a meeting this week with parents from the Western District, whose mass vaccination drive was yesterday as well as today.

This latest DoH update received by Samoa News includes numbers from the first-two days for the mass vaccination drive for the Central District.

According to DoH data, as of Dec. 6th, a total of 1,800 shots were administered on Dec. 1st and 1,127 on Dec. 2nd. And that includes people receiving the first or second shot as well as the booster dose.

Data further shows that from Dec. 1st to Dec. 3rd, total shots administered in all categories during the mass vaccination totaled 3,130.

Even though the focus of the vaccination drive is Dec1st and Dec. 2nd - along with Dec. 8th and 9th and Dec. 15th and 16th - ASG officials say that including Dec. 3^rd data allowed them to capture "the TOTAL number of doses administered from Dec. 01 to Dec. 3" as many DoH clinics, such as the Well-Baby Clinic in Tafuna, along with the usual vaccination sites — such as the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building in Utulei were administering shots.  Furthermore, there were also after hours DoH clinics on Thursday.

DoH also provided a breakdown by age group in its latest data for the three-days of the vaccination drive last week. For children ages 5 to 11 years old — which is the target of the vaccination drive — there were 2,013 first-shots administered and ASG officials told Samoa News that they are very pleased with this high number and are hoping it will continue going forward before the Christmas holiday break.

The territory’s lead Epidemiologist, Dr. Aifili John Tufa with the Department of Health reported the same data from last week’s mass vaccination drive, during the COVID-19 Task Force meeting earlier this week. He said the mass vaccination drive “achieved  a single day record” on Dec. 1st of 1800 doses administered, according to a task force news release.

Task force chairman, Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale thanked the task force members and agencies involved in the mass vaccination drive for their planning and collaboration that led to a successful turnout for vaccine doses in the central district of the Territory. 

On behalf of Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga and the people of American Samoa, “I want to thank all of you who sacrificed the time and effort to make it a successful drive. By any measure, it was a success. If we had a few more capable of administering we probably would've gotten close to 5,000. So thank you very much,” Talauega is quoted in the news release telling the meeting.

MEETING WITH PARENTS

Among the data and issues covered in the DoH information sheets, which were also presented during meeting with parents, was medical data —information and statistics on the safety of the vaccine for children as well as benefits.  Among the benefits listed are:

• Prevents hospitalization for serious complications from COVID-19 like multi-organ inflammatory response that is now being seen worldwide in children

• Reduces secondary transmission to other family members - e.g. elderly & younger siblings, schoolmates

• Prevents post-COVID conditions

• Contributes towards herd immunity once our community vaccination rates get high enough.

Health officials have said in previous news conferences that the governor is aiming for a 90% or more vaccination rate to obtain herd immunity.

“Common side effects” include: pain, redness and swelling on the arm where the child got the shot. Additionally, throughout the rest of the person’s body: tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

Also included in DoH presentation is U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics in children 5-11 yrs:

• More than 1.9 million cases in children to date - in the U.S

• Delta variant, children are making up a larger % of hospital admissions

• Vaccination after infection greatly strengthens protection and further reduces risk of re-infection

• Underlying conditions - like rheumatic heart disease - pose a higher RISK for post-COVID complications, conditions, and death

• In Oct 2021, COVID-19 was #8th leading cause of death in this age group

DoH also has a long list of frequently asked question along with responses. Parents and others who have questions or need more information, should call the DoH hotline “219”.