The CNMI reaching 70% of its eligible population being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is an impressive feat, but in comparison to the initial stages of the rollout of vaccines, in both the U.S. and the CNMI, the vaccination rate has noticeably slowed down. When asked why she thinks this is the case, Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation chief executive officer Esther Mu\u00f1a, said it could be due to the sense of urgency to get vaccinated decreasing as the percentage of the population being fully vaccinated increases. <\/p>\n
\u201cOn the first days of our vaccination rollout, we were seeing individuals that were waiting and excited for the [scientific] breakthrough with the development of the COVID-19 vaccines. We saw individuals that decided that there was no reason to wait for getting vaccinated and just simply got it,\u201d said Mu\u00f1a. <\/p>\n
However, as the CNMI has been making its way toward its goal of having 80% of the eligible population being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, that \u201cfeeling of urgency\u201d has started to fade among some members of the community and some have also declined getting vaccinated for various reasons. However, with the rise of cases and deaths in the U.S. due to the delta variant of COVID-19, Mu\u00f1a hopes to see a renewed sense of urgency.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur goal is to help them get their protection sooner than later. We want to help them get it sooner because we’re far from the end of the pandemic and the delta variant, which is more contagious and is present in almost every U.S. state, is already killing more people,\u201d said Mu\u00f1a.<\/p>\n
As far as other possible motivators for the community to go out and get vaccinated, Mu\u00f1a emphasized that the sooner a large portion of the CNMI is fully vaccinated, the sooner the CNMI could begin returning to pre-pandemic life. \u201cEveryone has their own reasons [to not receive the vaccine]. [But,] there’s the reopening of the schools and businesses getting back to pre-COVID operations. In order to do this safely, vaccinations help,\u201d said Mu\u00f1a.<\/p>\n
According to the vaccinatecnmi.com dashboard on Wednesday afternoon, 70.6% of the CNMI\u2019s eligible population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. To reach 80% vaccinated, 3,983 more people need to receive their vaccines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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