By: Eoghan Ngirudelsang
Ministry of health Emergency Operation Center (EOC) officially dissolved the day before yesterday June 30th according to former EOC liaison office Verna Kyota.
“EOC’s function was supposed to end on June 16th but we moved it to the end of this month” said the president at Wednesday’s press conference.
The dissolution of EOC does not mean that the work to monitor and test during this pandemic will stop. Mr. Gaafar Uherbelau, former Deputy Incident Commander said that the work will continue by those within the Ministry but the Command Center will no longer be there unless situation occurs that will call for it.
EOC consist not only of health but other ministries and agencies and now, with those agencies will return to their regular duties and not have to meet on weekly basis as they did under EOC.
Meanwhile, Whipps stressed that Palau’s vaccination success stating “we are the first in the world in terms of vaccination rate”
“To date since January 3 when vaccination began, 12,104 people has received the first dose of Moderna vaccine, 11,913 have received the second dose of Moderna, and 1,967 got the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. A total of 14,071 adults have received their first dose while 13,880 are fully vaccinated” as reported by former Deputy Incident commander Gaafar Ucherbelau. He announced that the last open PAD for adult vaccination is today July 2nd at the Palau national gym for 10am to 2pm. Both Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines will be available.
Ucherbelau reported that “we continue to wait for the authorization of the Moderna vaccine that will be used for kids age 12 to 17 years old”. He said they are expecting authorization by July 17 so that vaccination for 12-17 years old can begin with what we have. Also additional 4,000 Moderna vaccines are being ordered.
It was reported at last press conference that there were about 2,000 Johnson &Johnson vaccines left over and Palau is looking into donating them to Yap to aid in their vaccination efforts as the said vaccines will expire this coming August.