JIC RELEASE NO. 610 - VAPPC Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility to 16 Years and Older;Results: Four of 585 Test Positive for COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics for March 23 – 27 for UOG Fieldhouse, Village-Based, Homebound; COVID-19 Community Testing

VAPPC Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility to 16 Years and Older
Today, the Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Policy Committee (VAPPC) approved to expand the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility criteria to residents ages 16 years and older, effective immediately. Minors may only receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (J & J/Janssen) vaccines are not recommended for individuals below the age of 18 years. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and provide government-issued identification to validate age. The parent or legal guardian will also be required to sign a consent form on behalf of the minor to receive the vaccine. All residents 18 years of age or older are eligible for all three vaccine brands, though additional criteria apply to residents who wish to receive the J & J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

The committee also received updates on Guam’s April COVID-19 vaccine allocation. Guam is expected to receive approximately 18,000 Pfizer-BioNTech doses, 12,000 Moderna doses, and 200 J & J/Janssen doses next month. The VAPPC will continue to meet as needed to discuss all vaccine-related matters. 

Results: Four New Cases of COVID-19

Four new cases of COVID-19 were identified out of 585 tests performed by the Department
of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) on Sunday, March 21, and tests from additional
labs from Friday, March 19 to Sunday, March 21. One (1) case reported recent travel history
and was identified in quarantine.

To date, there have been a total of 7,784 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 134 deaths, 27 cases in active isolation, and 7,623 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 Monday, March 22, and reflects results additional labs from Friday, March 19 to Sunday, March 21:

The following provides preliminary COVID-19 vaccinations reported to the JIC on Monday, March 22, for vaccinations administered from December 17 to March 21:

*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.

***Administering second doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations began on January 29, 2021.

****Johnson &Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccinations began on March 15 and were developed as a one-dose series.

^As of March 21, 2021. Total doses administered and allotted doses differ as vaccinators were able to draw additional doses per vial. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s February 25, 2021 revision of their Fact Sheet relative to the Pfizer-BioNTech Emergency Use Authorization now states, “After dilution, one vial contains six doses of 0.3 mL. Vial labels and cartons may state that after dilution, a vial contains five doses of 0.3 mL. The information in this Fact Sheet regarding the number of doses per vial after dilution supersedes the number of doses stated on vial labels and cartons.” | ^^Reflects the previous allocation total of 86,560 and last received an allocation of 1,300 Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccines on March 8, 2021.

COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics for March 23 – 27 at UOG Fieldhouse
COVID-19 vaccination clinics continue on Tuesday, March 23 to March 27, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the UOG Fieldhouse. These clinics will administer first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and second doses of both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is not available at the UOG vaccination clinic at this time. Eligible residents are advised to schedule an appointment online via Eventbrite at tinyurl.com/vaccinateguMar23-27. 

If scheduling an appointment is not possible, walk-ins will be accepted at a limited rate of 15 per hour. Walk-ins wishing to avoid longer wait times are discouraged from lining up prior to the 10 a.m. opening and are asked to expect reasonable delays.

Upon arrival, individuals 60 years and older will be sent to the front of the line. Please bring a digital or hard copy appointment confirmation, a photo ID, and proof of Guam residency (Guam Driver's License, Guam ID, Green Card, US, FSM, Palau, or RMI Passport). Those due for their second dose are reminded to bring their COVID-19 immunization card. This ensures quicker processing and proper documentation.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those due for their second dose of the vaccine may get their second dose up to four (4) days early. The CDC further states that if it is not feasible to adhere to the recommended interval and a delay in vaccination is unavoidable, the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be administered up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose.

Village-Based COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Scheduled for March 23 & 26
DPHSS, in partnership with MCOG, and the Guam Department of Education, continues village-based COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the villages and locations listed below. Village-based clinic hours are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m or while supplies last. Patients who are due for their second dose will be prioritized. Please bring a photo ID and COVID-19 immunization card. Although walk-ins are accepted, eligible village residents are encouraged to register with their respective mayor’s office. 

Homebound Vaccinations Continue March 23-26

DPHSS, in partnership with MCOG, continues homebound vaccinations for those pre-registered with their village mayor and meet eligibility criteria. Homebound vaccinations are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the villages and locations listed below: 

COVID-19 Community Testing on March 23 & 26 in Tiyan
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), in collaboration with the Mayors’ Council of Guam, Guam Department of Education, Guam Police Department, Guam Fire Department, and other GovGuam and federal agencies, continues COVID-19 community testing on Tuesday, March 23, and Friday, March 26, at the Old Carnival Grounds in Tiyan, Barrigada, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. DPHSS will offer up to 150 COVID-19 tests on a first-come, first-served basis. 

COVID-19 testing for travel purposes will not be conducted at this community testing site. Individuals seeking COVID-19 testing to travel off-island may contact the DPHSS Northern Region Community Health Center at 635-7525/6 to schedule an appointment for testing.

Residents are reminded that this event is only a COVID-19 community testing. NO VACCINATIONS will be offered at this location. For the safety of the community and the nurses, only four (4) people per vehicle are allowed to be tested. No symptoms are needed to qualify for testing. Please bring a picture ID.

Food Commodities Distribution Continues
The Guam Department of Education (GDOE), State Agency for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Nutrition Service (FNS), continues the distribution of food commodities through each mayor at the village level.  Recipients will receive TEFAP food commodities per household that may include canned chicken, spaghetti sauce, mixed fruits, peaches, plums, kidney beans, yellow split peas, pistachios, hazelnuts, circle oat cereal, crispy hexagon cereal, and bottled cranapple juice. Food distribution will be available to village constituents only and residents should call their respective mayor’s office for more information. Participants are reminded to wear a mask, maintain physical distancing, and follow all traffic directions and signage.

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

Frozen and chilled food commodities will also be distributed at the Dededo Senior Citizen Center drive-thru on a first-come, first-served basis on Tuesday, March 23, and Wednesday, March 24 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., or while supplies last. The Dededo Mayor’s Office will be closed during the hours of commodities distribution. Distribution is available for residents of Dededo. A limit of three households per vehicle will be serviced at both sites. Face masks must be worn.

Enrolled Provider List for COVID-19 Vaccinations
Eligible Guam residents may contact any of the participating enrolled providers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine:

†Public and private clinics and pharmacies may become enrolled providers after first agreeing to participate in the DPHSS vaccination program. Enrolled providers must meet federal storage and handling requirements for COVID-19 vaccines as established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), designate staff to complete CDC online training and certification courses, and enroll to report vaccine administration through DPHSS Immunization Registry to meet CDC reporting requirements. Enrolled providers will continue to receive COVID-19 vaccination allocations from DPHSS monthly if the island’s vaccination allocation supply permits and if they continue to uphold these requirements.

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.