“I HOPE that we can expedite this for the betterment of our children,” Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said regarding the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.
On Saturday, Nov. 6, the first doses of the pediatric Covid-19 vaccine arrived in the CNMI and were distributed to the younger age group on Saipan.
This week, distribution of the vaccine was extended to those on Rota and Tinian.
“[This] will cover a whole new spectrum of ages, and that’s what we want. We want to give this opportunity for our children,” the governor said.
He encourages parents to bring their eligible children to the vaccination centers as soon as possible.
He said his children will receive the vaccine now that it has been made available for emergency use.
The governor said more resources will also be provided to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. and schools to vaccinate eligible students against Covid-19.
He noted that the Public School System and the private schools play a great role in developing herd immunity in the CNMI, and he added that more than 80% of individuals 12 years of age or older are already fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
“At the end of the day, we need to get our eligible children vaccinated,” he said.
If a positive Covid-19 case is identified in schools again, the governor said the protocols may have to be changed in close consultation with CHCC Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna, Covid-19 Task Force Chair Warren Villagomez and other medical experts.
“That is definitely something that we continue to look at… There [are] a lot of possibilities… One important thing is that it’s fluid. We say one thing and the next time, it may change,” he said, noting that the CNMI also follows the guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Those who want to get vaccinated may register online at www.vaccinatecnmi.com or in person at the multi-purpose center, Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Parental consent forms are required for minors who are unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and are also available at www.vaccinatecnmi.com
Community-based testing will be offered today, Nov. 10, from noon to 3 p.m. at the former Mariana Resort.
To register for testing, visit https://covidtesting.chcc.health
For more information on Covid-19 in the CNMI, visit www.staysafecnmi.com
