As of Thursday, 10 January 2022, roughly 99.9 percent of the eligible population in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI), or 43,047 individuals, had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to figures provided by the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.
During a U.S Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources meeting earlier this month to examine the state of the U.S territories, the committee chair, U.S Senator Joe Manchin was impressed by CNMI’s high vaccination rate in comparison to the other U.S territories.
“You win the ribbon today,” he said.
Of the fully vaccinated population, 36,748 individuals received the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine as their second dose, while 5,167 received the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine as their second dose.
Individuals are permitted to “mix and match” these two vaccines, receiving either as their first and/or second dose.
There were 1,132 individuals who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Covid-19 vaccine.
Tinian holds the distinction of having a 100% vaccination rate as all 1,920 of the island’s eligible population are fully vaccinated. Saipan has the second highest vaccination rate at 99.9% or 39,414 individuals out of the eligible population of 39,472 are fully vaccinated. Rota has a 98.4% vaccination rate or 1,713 individuals of the eligible population of 1,741 are fully vaccinated.
Just over 46% of the fully vaccinated population in the CNMI, or 19,978 individuals, have received an additional dose.
The current rate of fully vaccinated individuals is based on the 2020 Census which estimates that out of the total population of the CNMI, 43,089 individuals are aged 5 years and older — the eligible age range for the Covid-19 vaccine.
Of those who have received an additional or a booster dose, 16,711 individuals are in the 18- to 64-year-old age group, and 2,374 are 65 years of age or older.
Among eligible children — those who are 12 to 17 years old — 893 have received an additional or a booster dose.
Individuals are eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster dose at least five months after completing their primary series, or the Johnson & Johnson booster dose at least two months after completing their primary vaccination.
Individuals must be at least 12 years of age to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose and at least 18 years of age to receive the Moderna or the Johnson & Johnson booster dose.
CHCC continues to encourage the community to get vaccinated if they have not done so already, or to get their booster shot if they are eligible to help prevent severe illness, hospitalisation, and death.
Individuals should seek care or test early if s/he is experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, as s/he may be eligible for monoclonal antibodies or other new drugs that are given soon after infection.
SOURCE: MARIANAS VARIETY/ PACNEWS
