Customs personnel stand by as the first shipment of the Covid-10 vaccine is unloaded from a United Airlines aircraft at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport at 5:30 a.m. Thursday.
Contributed photo
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, center, with Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. Chief Executive Officer Esther Muna, left, CNMI Covid-19 Task Force Chairman Warren Villagomez, right, and task force personnel pose next to the Covid-19 vaccine shipment that arrived at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport Thursday morning.
Contributed photo
A Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. staff member unloads a box of newly arrived Covid-19 vaccine shots at the hospital Thursday morning.
Contributed photo
The first batch of the coronavirus vaccine, which was sent by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through Operation Warp Speed, was immediately transported to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.
At the airport to receive the shipment were Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, CHCC Chief Executive Officer Esther Muna, CNMI Covid-19 Task Force Chairman Warren Villagomez and Department of Public Safety officers.
“A lot of planning and work went into this shipment,” Muna said. “We are grateful to all involved.”
She added, “This is just another step to keep CNMI residents safe and protected from Covid-19. Our goal now is to get the vaccines to our residents and as soon as more vaccines arrive and are ready for distribution, more announcements will be made.”
Northern Marianas College Interim President Frank Eliptico, in a separate interview, said he is looking forward to getting vaccinated.
He said NMC is also looking for guidance from the CNMI Covid-19 Task Force to make sure that the college implements proper, appropriate and legal procedures.
“We want everybody to be vaccinated, of course, but we want to do it the right way,” he added.
He said he trusts the science and the individuals who have been given the responsibility of determining whether the vaccine is safe.
“I trust their judgment and I trust the science. I will be happy, and look forward to be vaccinated as well as the campus community — teachers, students and support staff who want to be vaccinated along with me. So I’m looking forward to it — I will be the first one if possible,” he added.
