Hawai‘i State Department of Health Launches AlohaSafe Alert App to Reduce Spread of COVID-19
Free app augments contact tracing, keeps data private, sends notice of potential exposure HONOLULU –– The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH) in partnership with aio Digital and the Hawai‘i Executive Collaborative (HEC) have launched AlohaSafe Alert, the free State of Hawai‘i officially-approved exposure notification app to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. “Masks, distance and vaccines are all valuable tools against COVID-19. The AlohaSafe Alert app is another important tool in the fight against COVID-19,” said Dr. Libby Char, director of the Hawai‘i State Department of Health. “This innovative app was developed for the community, by the community, and [...]
COVID-19 vaccination hubs help speed dosages to independent healthcare providers
HONOLULU – As a way to continue to rapidly administer COVID-19 vaccines to healthcare workers, the Hawai‘i Department of Health and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii are working with hospitals in each county to ensure independent healthcare providers and their staff can obtain the first dosage of their vaccine this month. Hawai‘i’s hospitals are serving as conveniently located vaccination hubs where independent providers can also obtain their second, follow-up dosage 21 days later. Hospitals are using the Pfizer vaccine for healthcare workers. Independent healthcare providers and their staff who have not yet received a vaccination should complete an online survey [...]
New “Let’s Get Back to Real Life” campaign features young peoples’ COVID-19 trials, tribulations, and hope
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health developed a new campaign to highlight the economic and educational toll that COVID-19 has taken on Hawai‘i’s students and young adults. The “Let’s Get Back to Real Life” campaign features personal stories from Hawai‘i’s young people that inspire residents to continue following safe practices, as the state continues its road to economic recovery and residents await their turn to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. “Let’s Get Back to Real Life" was developed to resonate with young people who have had to sacrifice and miss opportunities due to COVID-19. “We recognize that the ongoing pandemic [...]
State laboratory guarding against new COVID-19 strains
Fast moving variants heighten concern about social gatherings HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) continues to proactively test COVID-19 specimens looking for new strains that may be significantly more contagious or differ in other ways from earlier strains. Recent variants first discovered in the United Kingdom and South Africa are spreading more easily and quickly than other variants and have already spread to other countries. The B1.1.7 variant, first detected in the U.K., has already reached the U.S. mainland and Canada. The Hawai‘i State Laboratories Division (SLD) began its molecular surveillance in June and to date has [...]
Hawai‘i Department of Health: Vaccine Distribution Update
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health continues to receive and distribute shipments of COVID-19 vaccine as quickly and efficiently as possible. Here are the latest figures. Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine: 11,700 doses ordered today. Delivery expected early next week. 21,450 doses previously delivered. Moderna vaccine: 10,900 doses ordered today. Delivery expected early next week. 12,000 doses previously delivered. 5,400 Moderna doses previously delivered to CVS & Walgreens for use in long-term care facilities Combined totals (Pfizer-BioNTech & Moderna) 22,600 vaccine doses ordered today. 33,450 vaccine doses previously delivered. 5,400 vaccine doses delivered to CVS & Walgreens Hawai‘i expects to receive a [...]
Hawai‘i Department of Health preparing for COVID-19 vaccine distribution to individual healthcare providers
Statewide survey is first step for efficient distribution HONOLULU – With the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to Hawai‘i’s major hospitals already underway, these healthcare facilities in partnership with the Hawai‘i Department of Health and Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i are now preparing to launch the next major step: distribution of the vaccine to doctors who have independent practices to ensure the vaccine is readily accessible and available to them. According to the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, independent physicians and their office staff are designated as high-risk health workers, and should be among the first groups [...]
FDA panel recommends granting Emergency Use Authorization of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
Upon approval, 36,000 doses expected to arrive in Hawai‘i in December HONOLULU – Hawai‘i State Director of Health Dr. Elizabeth Char released the following statement following an important committee recommendation that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration grant Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine: “Today’s vote will likely lead to the FDA authorizing a second vaccine to help safeguard our community,” said Dr. Char. “It was vitally important for this committee of scientists and clinicians to complete an in-depth review of this vaccine. That review involved a clinical trial of more than 30,000 people. It gives us confidence about the vaccine’s safety and efficacy. [...]
Thousands of COVID-19 Vaccines Arrive
HONOLULU – Hawai’i received another shipment of COVID-19 vaccines today. The Hawai‘i Department of Health received 3,900 doses of the vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech. This precious cargo was distributed to Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children, Straub Medical Center, Pali Momi Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, Queen’s Medical Center West O‘ahu and the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. These medical facilities will administer the vaccines to their employees and other health care workers in their communities. This shipment represents the balance of the 4,875 doses in Hawai‘i’s prepositioning order. DOH has requested an additional 7,800 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. [...]
Hawai‘i Department of Health and City & County of Honolulu conduct training exercise for vaccine distribution
Counties prepare for vaccinating Phase 1 priority groups HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) and City and County of Honolulu today conducted a vaccination distribution exercise to simulate standing up vaccine clinics to immunize first responders and essential workers in the Phase 1 priority group which includes essential healthcare workers, long-term care facility residents and staff, and first responders. The City and County of Honolulu’s exercise is the first of a number of drills planned statewide in every county to prepare to safely and efficiently administer the vaccine. “The state has been conducting medical countermeasure distribution exercises and [...]
With FDA panel’s recommendation to approve first COVID-19 vaccine, Hawai‘i ramps up effort to vaccinate 81,000 individuals in December
After months of planning, Department of Health & partners to begin vaccination effort upon FDA Emergency Use Authorization Initial phase includes high-risk health workers, long-term care facilities HONOLULU – Governor David Ige, Hawai‘i State Director of Health Dr. Elizabeth Char, and other stakeholders today laid out the first steps of Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 vaccination effort, including plans to distribute an expected 81,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccinations in the month of December to high-risk health care workers and long-term care facilities across the state. Earlier today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee recommended Emergency [...]