JIC RELEASE NO. 550 - Results: 12 of 570 Test Positive for COVID-19; VAPPC Approves Vaccinations for Childcare Center Workers & Hospital Discharge Patients; DPHSS COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Schedule for the Week of January 27 – 30; School-Based Employees

Results: 12 New Cases of COVID-19
Twelve (12) new cases of COVID-19 were identified out of 570 tests performed Monday, January 25. Six (6) cases reported recent travel history and were identified in quarantine. 

To date, there have been a total of 7,566 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 129 deaths, 102 cases in active isolation and 7,335 not in active isolation.

1The COVID Area Risk (CAR) Score accounts for the incidence of new cases, how well current testing identifies these cases, and the rate of spread. The ideal long-term goal is to sustain a CAR Score of 2.5 or less, which has been shown to correlate with very low to zero COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths. 

The following tables provide COVID-19 test results reported to the JIC on Tuesday, January 26 and reflects results from Monday, January 25:

The following provides COVID-19 vaccinations reported to the JIC on Tuesday, January 26 for vaccinations administered from December 17 to January 25:

*Administering second doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccinations began on January 4, 2021.

**Administering first doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations began on January 8, 2021.

VAPPC Approves Vaccinations for Childcare Center Workers, Hospital Discharge Patients 
The Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Policy Committee (VAPPC), during its meeting on Monday, January 25, approved vaccinations for licensed child care center workers who are also considered Phase 1b essential workers as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended guidelines for phasing categories. DPHSS will be communicating with licensed child care center providers to schedule their employees for vaccination. 

The VAPPC also expanded the Phase 1c category to begin vaccinating patients being discharged from the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) and Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) who are diagnosed with at least one comorbidity, regardless of age. 

Eligibility criteria for vaccination during hospitalization, on day of discharge:

• Age ≥ 60 years old
• Age 18-59 years old AND have
  • body mass index (BMI) ≥35, OR
  • chronic kidney disease, OR
  • diabetes, OR 
  • immunosuppressive disease, OR
  • are currently receiving immunosuppressive treatment, OR
  • cardiovascular disease, OR
  • hypertension, OR
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / other chronic respiratory disease, OR
  • chronic neurologic disorder / dementia, OR
  • liver cirrhosis

COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at UOG Fieldhouse January 27-30 
The Guam National Guard (GUNG), in partnership with DPHSS and the University of Guam (UOG), continues daily COVID-19 vaccination clinics through Saturday, January 30 at the UOG Fieldhouse from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. These clinics are open to the public for Phase 1c (individuals 60 years and older) in need of their first or second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Residents are advised to schedule an appointment online via Eventbrite. Click here to schedule. 

Starting Wednesday, January 27, a total of 85 slots will be available per hour daily through Saturday. Please show your appointment ticket on your electronic device or print-out at check-in. Bring a photo ID. Those due for their second dose are reminded to bring their COVID-19 immunization card. This ensures quicker processing and proper documentation.

COVID-19 Vaccinations January 27 – 30 at Southern Region Community Health Center
DPHSS, in partnership with the Office of the Governor, Guam Department of Education (GDOE), Mayors’ Council of Guam (MCOG), Department of Public Works (DPW), Guam Department of Labor (GDOL), Guam Fire Department (GFD), Guam Police Department (GPD), Guam National Guard (GUNG), University of Guam (UOG) School of Nursing and Health Sciences, and the Serve Guam Commission which oversees the AmeriCorps Guam Program, will continue its COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Southern Region Community Health Center (SRCHC) in Inarajan on Wednesday, January 27 through Saturday, January 30 starting at 8:30 a.m.

DPHSS will issue up to 250 tickets daily at SRCHC for vaccinations on a first-come, first-served basis to patients in their vehicles only. Patient Parking Instructions will be printed on the back of each ticket. Please bring a photo ID. If you are receiving your second dose, please bring your COVID-19 Vaccination card.

First Dose Vaccinations January 30 at Okkodo High School in Dededo 
DPHSS continues its COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Okkodo High School in Dededo on Saturday, January 30 starting at 8:30 a.m. to administer Moderna Dose one.

DPHSS will issue vaccination tickets at Okkodo High School for vaccinations on a first-come, first-served basis to patients in their vehicles only. Patient Parking Instructions will be printed on the back of each ticket. Please bring a photo ID.

School-Based Employees COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Continues at Tiyan High Jan. 27
DPHSS, in collaboration with American Medical Center (AMC) and GDOE will host vaccination clinics for school-based employees on Wednesday, January 27 and Thursday, January 28 at the Tiyan High School Gymnasium from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Vaccinations will be done by online appointments only. Walk-ins will not be accepted. The link to schedule online appointments and to submit consent forms was provided to school staff. AMC will service employees from the following:

Pre-screening Eligibility for COVID-19 Vaccinations

To take the COVID-19 vaccine, you must meet the following pre-screening eligibility criteria*:

• Must not be currently infected with COVID-19 or previously exposed within the last 14 days
• Must not have received any other vaccine, such as the flu shot, in the last 14 days

*Please note: If this is your first time receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, please make sure you have never taken other COVID-19 vaccine products. Please visit dphss.guam.gov to view the pre-screening eligibility.

V-Safe Vaccine Symptom Monitoring 
Individuals who have received the COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to register for the tool called v-safe, offered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell CDC if you have any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers, someone from CDC may call to check on you. V-safe will remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one. Sign up for v-safe with your smartphone’s browser athttps://vsafe.cdc.gov.

Food Commodities Distribution Through Village Mayors Continues
GDOE and the State Agency for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Nutrition Service (FNS) continues food commodities distribution through each mayor at the village level. Recipients will receive TEFAP food commodities per household that may include instant milk, canned pears, canned mixed fruits, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, canned beef, canned chicken, frozen shrimp, kidney beans, pistachios, oat circle cereal, bottled orange juice, or grapefruit juice, and banana chips. Food commodity distribution in each village will be available to village constituents only. Residents should call their respective mayor’s office for more information. 

Village Mayor’s distribution schedule for this week is as follows:

GBHWC Crisis Hotline
The Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC) has a Crisis Hotline available 24/7 at (671) 647-8833/4. For those feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed or are needing to talk to someone, GBHWC has experienced providers available and ready to assist the community with any heightened stress and anxiety experienced as a result of COVID-19.

For the latest information on COVID-19, visit dphss.guam.gov or guamrecovery.com. For inquiries on COVID-19, contact 311 through a local number, or call the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10. 

Click Here to View Prescreening Eligibility