Guam offers COVID-19 vaccinations
July 6 saw the first planeload of Taiwanese visitors arriving in the US Pacific territory of Guam. These visitors aren’t just visiting for the beautiful scenery and gorgeous beaches – they are there to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
These Taiwanese travelers are among the first to participate in the Air Visit & Vacation (V&V) program set up by the Guam Visitors Bureau. The V&V program allows eligible travelers from Taiwan, aged 12 and older, to travel to Guam and receive their first jab as quickly as one day after arrival. CNN quotes a report by Taiwan’s news outlet CNA that 164 passengers arrived on that first flight from Taipei on Tuesday. Most of them received their vaccinations the following day.
It turns out it is a popular program as tour packages from Taiwan to Guam, organized by Lion Travel, a major Taiwanese travel company, have reportedly been sold out through mid-July.
Participants in the tour packages also get to pick which vaccine they want from a list including Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer. Anyone who has already received their first jab elsewhere can still sign up for the V&V program for their second jab.
Other travelers can visit Guam
Lou Leon Guerrero, governor of Guam, also said in a media statement that all international visitors who can present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test within three days of their flight are exempt from quarantine from July 4.
Another incentive offered by Guam is that the first 5,000 international travelers visiting Guam will also receive a US$500 shopping allowance to use on the island. Retail therapy is, of course, always a draw!
To be able to participate, travelers need to book their flights and then reserve rooms at one of 11 designated hotels. They must then arrange private transport from the airport to that hotel and will be able to book their vaccination appointment through an online portal. All vaccinations are then administered at the designated hotels.
Taiwan and COVID-19
Initially, Taiwan was congratulated for its quick thinking at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic hit in March 2020, the island immediately closed its borders to almost all non-residents. In fact, Australia’s Lowry Institute ranked the country third best in the world behind New Zealand and Bhutan for its effective handling of the pandemic.
However, while they started off well, in May this year, Taiwan reported a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, just as it suffered its worst outbreak of the virus. This led some Taiwanese to travel overseas to be able to be vaccinated. It is hoped that with the new V&V project, Taiwanese residents will be able to receive their vaccines more quickly, while in the process boosting tourism.
It turns out Guam isn’t alone in enticing the Taiwanese to visit during the pandemic. The tiny Pacific country of Palau also welcomed travelers from Taiwan in April 2021. This marked the official opening of the first official travel bubble in the Asia-Pacific region.
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