THE Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. would like to remind the public that only healthcare workers, other front liners and the elderly — those who are 65 years and older — will get Covid-19 vaccine “until further notice.”
U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan receives the Covid-19 vaccine at the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Medical Care and Treatment Site.
Contributed photo
On Saturday, CHCC and the Governor’s Covid-19 Task Force accommodated an additional group of people who wanted to avail themselves of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.
It was the continuation of Phase 1A of the CNMI Covid-19 vaccinations at the Medical Care and Treatment Site.
In this phase, the population group to receive the vaccine is limited to the following:
• CHCC and other facility-based healthcare workers
• Covid-19 frontline responders
• Manamko’ (65 years old and older).
CHCC Chief Executive Officer Esther Muna said until further notice, only those that belong to the three population groups with confirmed appointments will be accepted.
As space becomes available, she said CHCC will accommodate individuals with certain underlying health conditions who are at a significantly higher risk of severe illness if infected with the coronavirus.
Dozens of manamko’ were administered the vaccine on Saturday. Among them was U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan.
“It was such a joy to see many of our elders who, like me, are 65 years and older get vaccinated,” he said.
“We have to fight this virus. And one way of fighting it is through growing herd immunity within our community and the rest of the world. The vaccine is the only tool we presently have to grow and attain herd immunity. And only then could we begin to see our lives return to some semblance of normalcy,” he added.
The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is administered in two shots, 21 days apart.
CHCC strongly recommends that those who got their first Covid-19 shot be present for their second vaccination. If they plan to travel within 21 days of receiving their vaccine, “please wait to register until you are able to be present for your second dose. You will lose priority placement if your second dose is missed,” CHCC said.
