Vaccine Distribution to Frontline Healthcare Workers: Q&A with Tarquin Collis, MD with Kaiser Permanente Hawaii
COVID-19 vaccines are here in Hawai‘i, and distribution to frontline healthcare workers has already begun. Kaiser Permanente Hawaii is playing a leading role in COVID-19 care and vaccine distribution in our state. They received their first shipment of 975 doses of the vaccine last week Wednesday, and started administering shots the following day. In September, we asked Tarquin Collis, MD, Chief of Infectious Diseases with Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, to share his frontline observations in providing care for patients with COVID-19. Today, the Hawai‘i Department of Health asked Dr. Collis for his insight on how hospitals prepared to administer its first [...]
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 [...]
COVID-19 Vaccine Q&A with Ronald Balajadia, Hawai‘i Department of Health Immunization Branch Chief
Ronald Balajadia, Hawai‘i Department of Health Immunization Branch Chief The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine has many asking wondering: When will it be available here? How does it work? Is it like the flu vaccine? Are there any side effects? Can it cause you to get very sick? We spoke with Ronald Balajadia, Hawai‘i Department of Health Immunization Branch Chief, who answers some of the most frequently asked questions about the vaccine: Q: When will the vaccine be available for people in Hawai‘i? Ron: The first supply of the COVID-19 vaccine will likely be available in mid-to-late December [...]
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 [...]
Hawai‘i hospitals prepare for arrival of COVID-19 vaccine
Healthcare community is working together to ensure coordination; The Queen’s Medical Center takes part in drill on receiving Pfizer vaccine HONOLULU - Hawai‘i’s hospitals and healthcare systems, in close coordination with the Hawai‘i Department of Health, are gearing up to ensure that they are prepared for the arrival and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. “My colleagues across the state have put their lives on the line in order to care for Hawaii’s COVID-19 patients,” said Kelley Withy, MD, MS, PhD, Director, Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Education Center. “As a clinical trial participant, I feel confident in the vaccine safety protocols. [...]