From zero to a million in four months!

In a year when time appears to play tricks on us, it may seem like quite a while ago when our only defenses against COVID-19 were masks, hand washing and physical distancing. Whether we’ve personally received a vaccine or not yet, we’ve come to count on COVID-19 vaccines to protect us—individually and collectively.

Four short months ago—on December 14, 2020—Dr. Lester Morehead of The Queen’s Medical Center received the very first COVID-19 vaccine in Hawai‘i.

And four months later—to the day—Hawai‘i surpassed the one million mark of doses administered across the state. That adds up to a significant percent of our small island population who have begun and/or completed their COVID-19 vaccine regimen.

“Congratulations Hawaii!” exclaims HDOH Director Dr. Libby Char. “Together we’ve reached the million-shot milestone. Let’s keep the momentum going.”

The million shots include both first and second doses and translates into more than a third of Hawai‘i residents with at least one dose and more than a quarter who are fully vaccinated—or will be once they build up immunity over the course of two weeks after the second dose.

Our momentum may slow slightly with Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine currently on hold while the CDC and FDA investigate safety concerns. And demand will ramp up considerably this coming Monday, April 19 when Hawai‘i expands eligibility to include everyone age 16+ in accordance with President Bidenʻs goal for the country.

Thank you for doing your part—whether that be getting your vaccination or patiently waiting your turn, as well as continuing the safe practices we’ve all become accustomed to. In the meantime, click HERE to enjoy this video celebrating Hawaiiʻs million-dose achievement.