Strengthening Vaccine-Preventable Disease Prevention and Response, Immunization Cooperative Agreement - Guam is an unincorporated, self-governing organized territory of the United States (U.S). Policy relations between Guam and the U.S. are administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, which is a constituent office of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Guam is the largest and southernmost island of the Mariana Islands archipelago, and the largest island in Micronesia. The total estimated population of Guam is 156,836 (US Census, 2020). The population of Guam is multiethnic, and is comprised of the following ethnic groups: native Chamorro (32.8%), Filipino (29.1%), white (6.8%), Chuukese (6.7%), Korean (2.2%), Japanese (1.4%), Palauan (1.4%), Pohnpeian (1.4%), Chinese (1.3%). Guam also has a young population, as nearly half of the population (45.2%) are between the ages of 0-29 years. It is also important to note that a plurality of Guam’s population (20.2%) had income in 2019 below the poverty level. In addition, Guam is one of the main hubs for international traveling in Micronesia, producing a mobile diverse population presenting challenges to maintain a healthy disease-free community for residents to the island. Funding provided by the Immunization and Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) Cooperative Agreement, through the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), enables the Guam Immunization Program to develop and implement effective strategies to prevent and control transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases. Particular emphasis is placed on accelerating interventions to improve the immunization coverage of children less than two years of age. Furthermore, the cooperative agreement supports the program’s efforts to raise immunization levels in targeted populations such as the under-served, adolescents, and high-risk adults. The Guam Immunization Program is applying to receive the funds needed to sustain the programs public health infrastructure, maintain an adequate supply of vaccines to respond to VPD outbreaks, identify and follow-up on infants born to hepatitis B positive mothers, enhance adult programs to name a few. Unlike other Immunization Programs, the Guam Immunization Program functions as the State, County and Local program with many responsibilities but with limited staff. Though we have been understaffed for several years, cross training of staff has allowed the program to continue operations. We continue to collaborate with our community partners to improve and increase immunization services offered on our island. In addition, the program continues to explore other alternatives in order to promote awareness, increase immunization coverage and reduce incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases. During the upcoming five-year project period, the program will carry out the seven strategies: 1) Strengthen program infrastructure and management; 2) Increase vaccine access; 3) Improve vaccine equity; 4) Promote vaccine confidence and demand; 5) Enhance data and evaluation; 6) Strengthen partner support; and 7) Enhance vaccination response readiness.
