Governor David Ige today provided an update on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts, saying health workers, residents and staff at nursing homes are currently being vaccinated. The second doses of the vaccine have started to arrive and will also be administered.
In addition, the first reaction begins, essential workers and 75-year-olds and older are also offered the vaccine.
Thereafter, the next phase will be vaccinated for people older than 65 years. It will also include those older than 16 who are at high risk for COVID-19 complications and other essential workers. By early summer, the vaccine will be open to all members of the community according to the state’s plan.
(A full breakdown of who is included in each phase and when the phase will roll out is scrolled down in this article).
Government Ige said: ‘I ask everyone to maintain our vigilance and to continue the safe practices that made Hawaii a leader in spreading COVID-19: wearing masks, washing hands and watching distances. By doing so – and being vaccinated if it is our turn – we can protect public health, revive the economy and strengthen our communities. ”
Those who may qualify for the vaccine but are not affiliated with a specific healthcare institution or employer are asked to make sure they visit the state hawaiicovid19.com website in the coming days. Government officials say there will be links and more guidance in the coming weeks where the public will be able to click on ‘I want to get a vaccine’ and be guided for further education. The state will also set up a telephone line to which people can call.
Josh Green, Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, said the state will increase the distribution of those who fall into Phase 1b category in about two weeks. He said the second week of January is expected to be a time when the federal government and their supply chain can give more vaccination to Hawaii each week.
“It’s already started, and we’re starting to vaccinate some individuals in the category, including first responders,” Lieutenant General Green said, noting that Hawaii can get a herd immunity if about 75 to 80 percent of the population is vaccinated.
According to Lieutenant General Green, a recent poll conducted by the state showed that about 55 percent of respondents said they absolutely wanted to be vaccinated, and another 25 percent said they could be convinced.
“I think 80 percent of our population will eventually get the vaccine – that’s 80 percent of 1.4 million – that’s more than a million people,” he said.
To date, the state has received more than 82,000 doses of vaccination. Lieutenant General Green said the state expects to reach 25,000 doses this week. The projection he said, based on information shared with the state so far, is plans to receive 150,000 doses each month at some point in the future.
It is estimated that 609,000 people fall together in phases 1 a, b and c, and large-scale sites are currently being erected for the distribution effort.
Lieutenant General Green said: ‘Our top priority is to keep everyone safe while working as quickly and efficiently as possible to use the vaccine and get out the door. We ask for everyone’s patience as we and the world tackle this monumental task. ”
Phase 1a: December 2020 – January 2021
- Healthcare workers: paid and unpaid staff in healthcare institutions who have the potential to be directly or indirectly exposed to patients or infectious materials. (Estimated total: 40,000)
- Residents for long-term care facilities: Adults living in facilities that provide various services, including medical and personal care to individuals who are unable to live independently. (Estimated total: 10,000)
Phase 1b: December 2020 – March 2021
- Hawaii Residents Aged 75+: Adults Over 75 (Estimated Total: 109,000)
- Frontline Essential Workers: Workers whose duties must be performed on the premises and close to the public or colleagues are at significantly greater risk of being exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and are essential for the functioning of society, with special attention to life and safety first. These include: first respond; correctional officers and staff; dispatchers of emergency services; individuals vital to federal, state, and local government operations; critical transport infrastructure workers (ports and docks, public transport, etc.); critical utilities (energy, water, etc.); teachers and staff for child care and educational support (child care, preschool, early education, K-12, after school, etc.); U.S. Postal Service employees. (Estimated total: 50,000)
Phase 1c: TBD: March – May 2021 (estimated total: 400,000)
- Hawaii 65+ Residents: Adults 65-74
- Individuals with underlying medical conditions: Individuals of all authorized vaccine who are eligible for age with disease states and underlying conditions that place their increased risk for severe COVID-19.
- Other essential workers: Essential workers not included in phase 1b
Additional considerations
- Vaccine distribution can occur simultaneously between phases
- Within each phase, vaccinations will be distributed to populations that are predisposed to the oldest, then in descending order of age.
- Vaccinations can be redistributed if there are significant outbreaks or clusters
- Priority groups can be extended to include others if deemed necessary to limit the spread of diseases, illnesses or deaths
- Where possible, vaccination can be distributed to populations that are geographically prioritized taking into account current disease activity, disproportionate communities, and health and socio-economic vulnerabilities.
Phase 2 and 3
Vaccination of the general population is expected to begin in the early summer of 2021, depending on the production and federal allocation of doses through Operation Warp Speed.