Ads by Google Ads by Google

Territory begins administering second doses of COVID-19 vaccine

Fara Utu (left) and DoH Pharmacist, Dr. Francine Amoa

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Health Department deputy director Fara Utu and DoH Pharmacist, Dr. Francine Amoa were among senior health officials who attended a news conference yesterday, where Dr. Amoa said that the second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will begin this Sunday through next week Wednesday.

She reminded “all individuals who received the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine and who are due a second dose, please check your vaccine card.” She said another group would start their second dose next week Saturday.

The first dose of the Pfizer vaccine started on Dec. 20th at both the DoH Tafuna Community Health Center and at the LBJ Medical Center compound. The priority — or first tier — for getting the vaccine are healthcare workers, first responders and other critical workers, already identified by the government’s vaccine distribution task force.

Also included in the first dose, given at LBJ compound were patients and their escorts as well as college bound students, traveling on the Jan. 13th medical charter flight to Honolulu.

Total vaccine administrated in American Samoa as of yesterday is 1,329 doses, according to a posting to the DoH Facebook page.

DoH had publicly announced last month that those who received the first dose, report to the same site or location to get the second dose.

During the news conference yesterday, Dr. Amoa also provided an update on the “clinical side” of the vaccine given out so far, saying that “we have yet to have anyone who require hospitalization or admission, due to the vaccine.”

“So we have been successful, in monitoring all those, 1,000-plus individuals who received the vaccine,” she said, adding that DoH “haven’t had anyone really report any serious adverse reaction to the vaccine.”

Dr. Amoa wore her facemask throughout the news conference and only took it off when addressing reporters.

Samoa News will report in future editions on vaccination issues that came up during the press conference.