Collaborative, multi-agency effort underway to reach vulnerable, hard-to-reach Hawai‘i residents
HONOLULU – Several government agencies along with private-sector and non-profit partners have launched a full-scale outreach effort to ensure every individual who wants a COVID-19 vaccination is able to get one. All Hawaii residents 16 years and older are eligible for vaccinations and the Department of Health is strongly encouraging everyone to take advantage of this. “We’re working hard to understand people’s reservations and barriers to accessing the vaccine and to provide information and education about the vaccines and the disease in order to allow people to make informed decisions and access vaccine if they choose to,” said Dr. Elizabeth [...]
Child’s death attributed to COVID-19
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) regrets having to report the state’s first pediatric COVID-19 death, a child age 0-10 years old. The child, a boy with known underlying health conditions, and his parents were visiting Hawai‘i from another state. He experienced COVID-19 symptoms shortly after arriving in the islands and was taken to a hospital where he died. Both parents were fully vaccinated before making the trip to Hawai‘i. There have been 479 deaths in Hawai‘i in which COVID-19 was a contributing factor. ### PDF: Pediatric COVID death
Johnson & Johnson Vaccinations Resume
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) will resume use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine Thursday, April 29 at a vaccination clinic at Windward Community College (WCC). The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will also be offered at WCC May 4, May 6, and May 11 from 8 am until 5 pm. Additional opportunities to receive the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine at locations around the state will be announced in the coming days and posted on the registration page at hawaiicovid19.com. Use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine was paused for 11 days while the U.S. Centers for [...]
Vaccine eligibility expands to residents 16 and older statewide
HONOLULU – Hawai‘i has reached Phase 2 of its COVID-19 vaccination program. This means all Hawai‘i residents age 16 and older are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine. Hawai‘i County, Maui County, and Kaua‘i County advanced to Phase 2 in early April. O‘ahu moved into Phase 2 this morning. “Schedule your vaccine as soon as you can,” advised Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char. “We don’t have enough to vaccinate everyone immediately, but you can schedule your shot now. If you can’t get an appointment today, you’ll be able to get one in the near future.” People are urged to visit the [...]
Hawai‘i pauses Johnson & Johnson vaccinations
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is pausing use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review data involving six cases in which individuals who received the Johnson &Johnson vaccine developed blood clots. “We’re are pausing out of an abundance of caution. Vaccine safety is of the utmost importance,” said Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char. “The risk of developing a blood clot is very low. About 6.8 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been administered in the United States. Six [...]
Department of Health to provide free COVID-19 community testing at Jarrett Middle School April 16 & 18
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is offering free public COVID-19 rapid testing in Pālolo Valley at Jarrett Middle School this coming Friday, April 16 and Sunday, April 18. This community COVID-19 testing will take place Friday evening from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and resume on Sunday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Jarrett Middle School is located at 1903 Pālolo Avenue. There will be free parking in the school parking lot with overflow street parking on Kalua Road and nearby neighborhood streets. A total of about 225 rapid tests will be available. Please anticipate about [...]
Vaccine eligibility expands to people age 50 and older on O‘ahu
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to O‘ahu residents age 50 and above beginning Monday, April 12. “This is a great opportunity for residents 50 and older on O‘ahu to register before vaccine eligibility opens to everyone 16 and older on April 19,” said Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char. “I encourage everyone who is eligible today to schedule their appointment as soon as possible.” A wide variety of vaccination options can be found on the registration page at hawaiicovid19.com. Services for older adults who may need additional assistance with online sign-up or who [...]
Greater vaccine supply facilitates additional vaccination opportunities
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is asking its District Health Offices on the neighbor islands to expand vaccine eligibility as needed to ensure all available vaccination slots are filled. Every island has its own unique characteristics including population, population density, healthcare resources and enthusiasm for COVID-19 vaccine. With more vaccine coming into Hawai‘i this week than any previous week, DOH Director Dr. Elizabeth Char believes the time is right to give the neighbor islands more say in how they administer vaccinations. “The state is getting more than 81,000 vaccine doses this week and the federal government is [...]
Vaccinations expand to people age 60 and older
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health announces the state will extend COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to people age 60 and older beginning Monday, March 29. “We are closely monitoring current and projected vaccination numbers, appointment availability and most importantly the amount of vaccine allocated to the people of Hawai‘i,” said State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char. “Our analysis of these indicators tells us it is time to expand vaccine eligibility to more people.” To date vaccines have been reserved for those in phase 1a and 1b of the state’s vaccination program as well as those age 65 and older, those [...]