Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 ends on May 11, 2023
HONOLULU, HI –The federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, will expire at the end of the day on May 11, 2023. As the PHE ends, high levels of vaccination, widespread population immunity, and available treatments have significantly reduced the risk of severe COVID-19 disease, hospitalization, and death. “We mourn the loss of loved ones from the pandemic. However, our experience demonstrated what we can accomplish when we come together as a community, having the lowest mortality rate in the nation,” said Hawaii State Health Director Dr. Kenneth Fink. “Although [...]
Seniors now eligible for additional COVID-19 bivalent booster dose, COVID vaccine recommendations simplified
HONOLULU, HI – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) supports the latest recommendations announced yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), allowing an additional dose of the bivalent booster against the virus that causes COVID-19 for individuals at increased risk for severe infection. CDC’s announcement also simplifies vaccination schedules to allow bivalent vaccines to be used for primary vaccination series, as well as boosters. “These simplified recommendations make it even easier to protect yourself and your family from severe COVID-19 illness and death,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble. “COVID-19 is still circulating, and we have seen [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 hospitalizations on the rise
HONOLULU, HI – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) reports a rise in the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations. The number of total positive COVID-19 hospitalizations has increased over the past week (3/26 – 4/4) from 39 to 74 patients, which is an 89.7% increase. “Our hospitals still have capacity”, says State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble. “However, it is a reminder of the ongoing circulation of COVID-19 in our community. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, is the best defense against becoming seriously ill from COVID-19.” DOH recommends individuals who have not yet received a bivalent booster to get [...]
Celebrate a COVID-19 free holiday by taking simple safety precautions
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health encourages people to celebrate the holidays safely by taking simple steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. Get a bivalent booster at your doctor’s office, neighborhood clinic, or pharmacy Stay home if sick Wear masks indoors, when traveling, and when with vulnerable people Gather outdoors. If you must gather indoors, open windows and use fans to improve ventilation Limit gathering sizes Take an at-home test before meeting with kūpuna and others at high risk of severe illness Wash or sanitize hands frequently “The past few years COVID-19 illness increased [...]
Updated COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as 6 months coming soon
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health has placed orders to supply participating healthcare providers with updated COVID-19 bivalent vaccines for children as young as six months of age. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for keiki-sized vaccines Thursday, December 8. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded the use of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines to include children ages six months through five years today. Children ages six months through five years who completed the two dose primary series of Moderna vaccines are eligible for a Moderna bivalent booster two months after their final primary series [...]
Hawaiʻi respiratory virus rates rise early in season
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health is reporting that cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and influenza are increasing in Hawaiʻi, in line with trends observed across the country. RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but children under the age of five, and in particular infants, are at highest risk for severe RSV infections. Older adults, especially those with underlying medical conditions, can also experience severe illness. “Many respiratory viruses are circulating in our community, including RSV, COVID-19, and influenza,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah [...]
Novavax COVID-19 boosters available in Hawai‘i
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) announces the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 booster by Novavax and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and DOH are allowing use of the COVID-19 booster by Novavax. Novavax monovalent COVID-19 boosters are recommended for adults 18 and older for whom a bivalent booster by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna is not clinically appropriate and adults who would otherwise not get a COVID-19 booster. Adults who completed their primary series of Novavax, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines at least six months ago can receive [...]
COVID-19 bivalent boosters recommended for children five and older
HONOLULU – The Department of Health (DOH) recommends COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccines for everyone age five and older. Bivalent boosters are the first COVID-19 vaccinations designed specifically to protect against original COVID-19 and the most common forms of COVID-19 in Hawai‘i, the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants. The BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants account for almost all of the COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i. “This is great news for parents who want to protect their young children. Bivalent boosters were already available for everyone 12 and older. Now kids ages 5-11 can benefit from these new boosters too,” said State Health Director [...]
Wastewater data consistent with important COVID-19 metrics
HONOLULU – The Department of Health (DOH) published a COVID-19 Wastewater Report on Thursday, September 29. The report shows COVID-19 cases have declined since early June and the Omicron subvariant BA.5 is the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Hawai‘i. “Data from wastewater testing aligns with other data sets,” said State Laboratories Division (SLD) Administrator Edward Desmond, Ph.D, D (ABMM). “Results from COVID-19 tests taken by individuals show case counts have dropped since June. This is consistent with data in the Wastewater Report which shows concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 have declined since June. Genome sequencing shows BA.5 is the most common subvariant [...]
COVID-19 reinfection rate rising
HONOLULU – The Department of Health (DOH) is enhancing the Hawai‘i COVID-19 data dashboard to include reinfections. The percentage of COVID-19 cases involving individuals who had a prior infection is growing over time and now accounts for about 10% of new confirmed cases. “The data on reinfections underscores what we have been saying; that limited immunity from previous infection only lasts so long. Regardless of whether a person has had COVID-19 in the past, they should stay up to date on their vaccinations and boosters to get increased protection from severe illness and hospitalization,’ said State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble. [...]