Without COVID-19 cases, how does American Samoa’s vaccination rate compare to other US jurisdictions?
American Samoa is one of the few places in the world that has avoided the coronavirus completely—there have been no confirmed cases. This is a result of the strict lockdowns and travel regulations that were implemented by the government. As Holger Drössler explains, this is the result of past successes with the implementation of similar measures to limit the impact of previous pandemics, such as Zika in 2016, Dengue Fever in 2017, and measles in 2019. However, this history and the measures taken by the Government of American Samoa are not shared by all of the other United States territories.
The development of the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines was a massive step in the fight against this deadly disease. The US territories were included in the phased rollout that began in the United States in late 2020. Phase 1 of the rollout included healthcare workers and immunocompromised individuals. Since then, the vaccines have become available to anyone above the age of 12.
As of August 20, 2021, the population of American Samoa, ages 12 and above, is 51.7% vaccinated, according to the New York Times. They have the third-highest vaccination rate among the US territories and the 47th highest rate among US jurisdictions overall. However, their rate is comparable to the United States overall, which also is about 51% vaccinated.
The lower vaccination rate in American Samoa is likely the result of the fact that the vaccines need to be stored at extremely cold temperatures, and there are only a few facilities in the territory that are capable of storing them. Therefore, the vaccines must be stored at these locations and then transported to health centers around the island so that they can be administered. However, it is likely that the vaccination rate in American Samoa will continue to rise, and that the territory will continue to be protected from this deadly virus. As the vaccination rate rises, officials in American Samoa are hoping that tourism and other industries will reopen.
Kwa kuwa hakuna kesi za COVID-19, kiwango cha chanjo ya Samoa ya Amerika kinalinganishwaje na mamlaka zingine za Amerika? Samoa ya Marekani ni mojawapo ya maeneo machache duniani ambayo yameepuka kabisa virusi vya corona - hakuna kesi zilizothibitishwa. Hii ni matokeo ya kufungwa kwa nguvu na kanuni za kusafiri ambazo zilianzishwa na serikali. "Hii ni matokeo ya mafanikio ya zamani na utekelezaji wa hatua kama hizo ili kupunguza athari za janga la zamani, kama vile Zika mnamo 2016, Dengue mnamo 2017 na surua mnamo 2019,"" anaelezea Holger Drösler." Hata hivyo, historia hii na hatua zilizochukuliwa na Serikali ya Samoa ya Amerika hazishirikiwi na maeneo mengine yote ya Marekani. """Uendelezaji wa chanjo za Pfizer, Moderna na Johnson & Johnson ulikuwa hatua kubwa katika mapambano dhidi ya ugonjwa huu hatari." Mikoa ya Marekani ilijumuishwa katika uzinduzi wa hatua kwa hatua ambao ulianza nchini Marekani mwishoni mwa 2020. Katika awamu ya kwanza ya majaribio hayo, wafanyakazi wa afya na watu wenye kinga iliyopungua walihusika. Tangu wakati huo, chanjo hizo zimepatikana kwa kila mtu mwenye umri wa miaka 12 na zaidi. Kwa mujibu wa gazeti la New York Times, idadi ya watu wa Samoa ya Amerika wenye umri wa miaka 12 na zaidi imepokea chanjo ya asilimia 51.7 ya mwaka huu. Nchi hizo zina kiwango cha tatu cha chanjo ya juu zaidi kati ya maeneo ya Marekani na kiwango cha 47 cha juu zaidi kati ya mamlaka ya Marekani kwa ujumla. Hata hivyo, kiwango chao ni sawa na cha Marekani kwa ujumla, ambayo pia ina asilimia 51 ya watu waliopatiwa chanjo. "Kama ilivyoelezwa, kiwango cha chini cha chanjo katika Samoa ya Amerika ni uwezekano wa matokeo ya ukweli kwamba chanjo zinahitaji kuhifadhiwa katika joto la baridi sana, na kuna vifaa vichache tu katika eneo hilo vinavyoweza kuhifadhiwa. """ Kwa hiyo, chanjo hizo lazima zihifadhiwe katika maeneo hayo na kisha zipelekwe kwenye vituo vya afya vilivyo karibu na kisiwa hicho ili zitumike. Hata hivyo, ni uwezekano kwamba kiwango cha chanjo katika Samoa ya Amerika itaendelea kuongezeka, na kwamba eneo hilo litaendelea kulindwa kutoka kwa virusi hivi vya mauti. Kwa kuwa kiwango cha chanjo kinaongezeka, maafisa wa Samoa ya Amerika wanatarajia kwamba utalii na viwanda vingine vitafunguliwa tena.