10% of FSM’s adult population now fully vaccinated, says govt
PALIKIR, Pohnpei—As of Thursday last week, 10% of the adult population of the Federated States of Micronesia has received their second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which translates into 14% of the nation’s minimum 70% target.
Yap has vaccinated 38% of its adult population with the first dose of the vaccine, and 25% with the second dose.
Chuuk has vaccinated 13% of its adult population with the first dose of the vaccine, and 6% with the second dose.
Pohnpei has vaccinated 18% of its adult population with the first dose of the vaccine, and 9% with the second dose.
Kosrae has vaccinated 29% of its population with the first dose of the vaccine, and 10% with the second dose.
All adults aged 18 and up are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The U.S. government has informed FSM that it can soon expect to increase its stockpiles of not only the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine but also the vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson. The FSM government intends for the Moderna vaccine to cover the nation’s larger main islands as the Moderna vaccine is shipped in a solid state and, once it becomes liquid, must be used quickly. By contrast, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine—which is shipped in a liquid state—will be used to vaccinate the remote atolls in Yap, Chuuk, and Pohnpei.
“The good news is that we are making progress,” said FSM President David W. Panuelo in a statement. “The bad news is that the progress we are making, as a nation, is too slow. I applaud the efficiency of the State of Yap, which—if it were judged as a separate jurisdiction—has a higher vaccination rate than [Palau and the Marshall Islands]. …I call on…Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae to follow Yap’s example, and to expedite their delivery of the vaccine to as many communities as possible.” (PR)
