PALIKIR, Pohnpei—Although progress during the period of mandatory vaccination across the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) remains less than ideal, as of March 16th, 2022, the FSM has nearly reached several of its total vaccination goals.
For adults aged 45 years and up, 97.8% of FSM adults are fully vaccinated (i.e. have received two doses of the Moderna and/or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, or the one-dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine). 19% of FSM adults aged 45 years and up have received a booster dose. Numerically, this constitutes 18,616 persons aged 45 and up who are fully vaccinated and 3,618 who are boosted.
For adults aged between 18 to 44 years, 71.6% of FSM adults are fully vaccinated. 9.5% of adults aged between 18 to 44 years have received a booster dose. Numerically, this constitutes 28,387 persons aged between 18 to 44 who are fully vaccinated and 3,787 who are boosted.
For adolescents aged between 12 to 17 years, 41% of FSM adolescents are fully vaccinated. These figures are highest in the States of Yap and Kosrae, with rates at 80.5% and 76.9% respectively, and lowest in the States of Chuuk and Pohnpei, with rates at 33.3% and 31.2% respectively. Numerically, 4,210 FSM adolescents are fully vaccinated.
However, it is expected that the Chuuk and Pohnpei rates will increase significantly over the next several weeks, as 59.3% of Chuukese adolescents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 62.2% of Pohnpeian adolescents have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Numerically, 6,711 FSM adolescents are partially vaccinated.
For children aged between 5 to 11 years, 27.7% of FSM children are fully vaccinated. These figures are highest in the States of Yap and Kosrae, with rates at 42.4% and 38.4% respectively, and lowest in the States of Pohnpei and Chuuk, with rates at 30.3% and 20.3% respectively. Numerically, 3,760 FSM children are fully vaccinated.
However, it is expected that the Pohnpei and Chuuk vaccination rates for children aged 5 to 11 will increase significantly over the next several weeks, as 55.2% of Pohnpeian children have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 49.2% of Chuukese children have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
65.6% of the Nation’s total eligible population (all persons aged five and up) is fully vaccinated, and 74.9% of the Nation’s total eligible population has received at least one dose of the vaccine. 8.7% of the Nation’s total eligible population has received a booster dose.
The FSM has enough vaccines for every person to become fully vaccinated and boosted.
The vaccine mandate remains in effect for all FSM citizens residing in the FSM.
As of March 16th, the FSM remains COVID-19 free.
While it is not within the scope of this release to announce repatriation dates, the FSM National Government is presently conducting readiness assessments across all four FSM States. It is increasingly likely that the FSM will resume repatriation flights in April 2022.
The report from the Department of Health & Social Affairs which informs the contents of this release may be found here: https://gov.fm/files/FSM_covid_coverage_3-13-22_Statewide-final.pdf
