The following is a news release from the Port Authority of Guam:
Almost 80 Port Authority of Guam employees, family members and Port users were vaccinated this morning during the first-ever Port Vaccination Clinic.
The Port hosted the clinic in conjunction with the Guam National Guard and the Department of Public Health and Social Services and the goal was to target Port employees, their family members and Port tenants. Prior to this clinic, the Port had 218 out of 347 Port employees, or 63 percent, who were fully vaccinated.
The Port Vaccination Clinic was held from 6:30am to 9:30am today at the former Board Room at the Port Authority of Guam. Employees could either walk in to the Port Vaccination Clinic or were able to drive-thru to receive their vaccine. A total of 78 vaccinations were administered.
“I want to thank Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio, Guam Army National Guard State Surgeon Dr. Mike Cruz and Public Health for agreeing to our request for this clinic and for putting in the hard work to make this a reality,” said Port General Manager Rory J. Respicio. “This Port Vaccination Clinic is just another part of our efforts to help keep our employees safe and to ensure we continue to stay 100 percent operational through this pandemic.”
Guam Army National Guard State Surgeon Dr. Mike Cruz said he was extremely pleased with the outcome of today’s clinic.
“I’ll tell you that the Port has set the standard. It has set the standard for cooperation of government agencies and any agency for that matter on what you have done to allow us to come in and basically just give the vaccine,” Dr. Mike Cruz said. “It just shows how much your administration and how much your Port Authority manager really cares.”
Major Luis Cruz of the Guam National Guard, who is also a physician, said the Port Authority set a good example for others to follow.
“The port made our job easier by having everything ready when we came,” Dr. Luis Cruz said. “I think they set the bar high for any government agency or any business on how they can run a successful vaccination clinic for their job site.”
Port Maintenance Manager Ernie Candoleta said when he heard the Port was hosting a vaccination clinic he spread the word throughout his family about the opportunity. Candoleta came to the clinic this morning to get vaccinated and brought his mother and children to get vaccinated as well.
“I said let’s go, let’s get this done and over with,” Candoleta said. “Save ourselves, help save COVID from spreading… and to save the port family as well.”
Port Police Officer W.K. Drilon said he took advantage of the convenience of the Port’s drive-thru clinic since his work schedule makes it hard for him to go to the other clinics offered across the island.
“It’s pretty good to have the vaccine,” Drilon said. “I think we are good to go now.”
Cabras Marine Electrical Leader Melbourne Talledo said he was grateful to the Port Authority of Guam for hosting the Port Vaccination Clinic and inviting the Port tenants and their employees to take part as well. Talledo said he hopes all of his coworkers eventually get vaccinated.
“I encourage them to take the vaccine so they may not spread the virus to everybody,” Talledo said.
Port General Manager Respicio said he hopes to be able to host another Port Vaccination Clinic at a later date.
