How can kupuna who are homebound get vaccinations?

The DOH is working closely with several partners to help facilitate options for homebound Kupuna. At this time, details are being worked out to ensure that everyone who wants a vaccine, receives a vaccine, regardless of their ability to get to a vaccination site.

Can kupuna get a ride to vaccination sites if they don't already have a ride?

The DOH is working closely with several partners to help facilitate options for Kupuna who do not have a ride to a site. At this time, details are being worked out to ensure that everyone who wants a vaccine, receives a vaccine, regardless of their ability to get to a vaccination site.

Will there be vaccinations on-site at senior housing projects?

There may be vaccination sites conducted at senior housing projects. However, not every senior housing project would participate in that program. The DOH recommends registering for vaccination as soon as it is offered to you if you can get to the site.

If kupuna do not have internet, how do they sign up? Is there help?

Some vaccination sites are offering registration by phone and more plan to add this option for Kupuna. Check HawaiiCOVID19.com/vaccination-registration for a list of registration sites and how to register or call the DOH immunization line at 808-586-8332 to be given phone numbers in your area as they become available.

Do I have to pay for parking at the vaccination sites?

Each vaccination site has its own process. Some require a small parking fee, while others do not. Visit HawaiiCOVID19.com/vaccination-registration for a link to the vaccination site where you can find their individual parking processes.

What happens if I miss my appointment?

Each vaccination site has its own process to schedule another appointment.

Can I show up to a POD and be available if they have extra doses?

No. Each POD is doing its best to ensure that no vaccine is wasted. Do not show up at a POD without an appointment as you will be turned away.

Will my physician be able to help me get an appointment for a vaccine or on a list to be notified about vaccinations?

Not at this time

The CDC has recently recommended that people 65+ and those with medical conditions that place them at high risk be eligible for the vaccine now, is Hawai`i following that recommendation?

The Hawaii DOH does follow CDC guidelines, however, at this time due to very limited vaccine in Hawaii, the priority is still 75+ but will open up to 65+ as more vaccine is available.

I’m 64 and feel like I am just as much as risk as someone who is 65. Can I get a priority vaccine?

Not at this time. At this time, details are being worked out to ensure that everyone who wants a vaccine, receives a vaccine. Know that you will receive a vaccine as more is available and we are able to expand to other groups.

How do I know which vaccination site I should register for? How do I know which sites are accepting new registrations and/or appointments?

HawaiiCOVID19.com/vaccination-registration has a list of vaccination sites throughout the state. Each vaccination site maintains its own registration process where they will announce available appointment dates/times.

Can I bring my family or caregiver with me to get vaccinated as well?

The priority is to vaccinate Kupuna first. Due to limited availability of vaccine, caregivers will not be vaccinated at this time. That may change as more vaccine becomes available.

Even with the vaccination, can you still be a carrier?

Most vaccines that protect from viral illnesses also reduce transmission of the virus that causes the disease by those who are vaccinated. While it is hoped this will be the case, the scientific community does not yet know conclusively if the approved vaccines will reduce such transmission. This is one of several reasons to continue wearing a mask and practicing social distancing even after getting fully vaccinated.

What is the plan to ensure convenient vaccine access outside of centralized locations like urban Honolulu?

The DOH is working closely with medical centers and community health centers to host clinics across the state and to make sure a variety of locations are available. More sites will be opening as more vaccine becomes available. HawaiiCovid19.com has a frequently updated list of sites. You can also contact your local healthcare center to inquire about their vaccine clinic plans.

Can we get more information on the vaccination hotline?

The DOH Vaccination Hotline can answer questions or concerns about the vaccine such as safety and studies. The hotline can refer you to where to find more information on being vaccinated. Because each clinic has its own process for registration, the hotline cannot register you for a vaccine.

The smart phone based tool/v-safe tool for the VAERS system is not accessible for our elderly clients, would there be a hotline they can call to report adverse effects?

Anyone can report an adverse event by calling VAERS at 1-800-822-7967. No smart phone is required.

What health conditions are included in 1c prioritization?

Director Char and a working group in Hawaii is specifically looking at what high-risk medical conditions should be included in group 1C. Many of Hawaii's guidlines have followed the recommendations of CDC and ACIP (the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices--a group of medical and public health experts that develop recommendations on how to use vaccines to control diseases in the United States). Some of the high-risk medical conditions MAY include: Cancer, Chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies), Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant, Pregnancy, and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. This is NOT the final or complete list of what 1C will include. When the 1C list is finalized, DOH will make that public.

Why is that some senior housing facilities already received their vaccination while others have not, for example Manoa Garden Senior Housing received their vaccination on site but other senior housing facilities have not?

Everyone is committed to making sure that every kupuna is vaccinated. However, there is limited vaccine supply and manpower for mobile vaccination efforts. Each site will be served as resources allow.

What is the plan to distribute to senior housing facilities?

The DOH is working to reach senior housing facilities. Currently DOH is sending mobile clinics to larger housing facilities and continues to work to collect information from other facilites to set up appointments for their residents. To submit your facility to be contacted, call the Immunization Call Center at 808-586-8332.

How is the Department of Health reaching out to homebound clients and others who are not online and have limited support networks?

There is no one solution for communication with hard-to-reach populations. The DOH and our partners are exploring many overlapping options including multi-channel media outreach (print, TV, radio), community and faith partners, social services providers, and encouraging grassroots, neighborhood-scale outreach efforts. We also encourge grassroots outreach to kupuna neighbors and acquaintences to ask if they need help.

It seems like there are different rules at different vaccine sites and things are changing everyday, where can i find the best information?

Since this is an unprecedented challenge and a rapidly emerging situation, guidance is prone to changing as new information becomes available. DOH and our partners communicate frequently to coordinate policies and processes, but occasional inconsistencies are inevitable. As we scale up and formalize the operation, standards are emerging, and confusion and inconsistent messages should become more rare. When in doubt, the department of health website contains most up-to-date information.

How common are side effects in the approved vaccines?

Mild reactions to the authorized COVID-19 vaccines like fever, aches, fatigue and chills are common. They are usually mild enough not to keep people from doing their normal daily activities, and usually go away after 1 to 3 days. Serious adverse reactions are very uncommon, and are generally associated with previously known allergies to vaccine ingredients. Safeguards are in place to prepare for the possibility of a severe allergic reaction: all people who get a COVID-19 vaccine should be monitored for at least 15 minutes and people who have had severe allergic reactions or who have had any type of immediate allergic reaction to a vaccine or injectable therapy should be monitored for at least 30 minutes after getting the vaccine. Most imortantly, for the majority of people, getting the COVID-19 vaccine is safer than getting sick with COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine is critical to saving lives and allowing us to get back to work, school and our loved ones.

Is there anything I should do or not do before getting vaccinated? (Is there something I can do to enhance the effect of the vaccine or not do that will diminish the vaccine’s effectiveness?)

Please review the CDC's pre-vaccination checklist before scheduling your appointment. It will inform you of any concerns. There are no supplements, foods or practices that will make the vaccine more or less effective, but good diet and exercise will help prevent and manage chronic diseases that are associated with more severe courses of COVID-19

Are visitors and snowbirds coming to Hawai`i to get vaccinated and what is the state doing to make sure residents get the scarce vaccinations rather than tourists?

Vaccine allocation from the federal government to the state is determined by population, therefore we encourage everyone to get vaccinated in their state of primary residence. It is also important that you schedule both doses in the same state, as inventory and appointments for first and second doses are managed differently. Delay either travel or vaccination till you can be in the same place for both doses. If you have an out of state ID and want to be vaccinated in Hawaii, be prepared to show proof of residence like a lease, insurance papers, or a utility bill.

Is there science that shows why the 75+ and 65+ in Hawai`i should be a priority?

Medical experts have strong evidence that people over 65 are at greater risk than the general public for severe outcomes or death if they are infected with COVID-19. For this reason, age is considered a significant risk factor. CDC guidance states that 75 and older should be prioritized for vaccination. Although Hawaii would like to vaccinate 65+ now, due to vaccine shortages and a high population of Kupuna in Hawaii, Hawaii is vaccinating 75+ and then opening to 65+ when more vaccine is available.

Can you explain what it means when a vaccine is 90 percent effective? What happens to the other 10 percent?

The currently available vaccines are around 95% effective. This means for every 100 people who recieve the vaccine, 95 of them will be immune to symptoms of COVID-19 and less likely to be asymptomatic spreaders.

The remaining 5 might de diagnosed with COVID-19 if exposed to someone who is sick, but will be very unlikely to have a severe case that would require hospitalization.

Is the vaccine safe given that there is only emergency authorization and when will the vaccines be fully approved?

The COVID-19 vaccines being offered to the public meet the US Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) standards for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). All COVID-19 vaccines were rigorously tested in thousands of people to make sure that they are safe and that they work.

When a vaccine is granted EUA by the FDA, it means the benefits of this vaccine outweigh the harms of becoming infected with COVID-19.

It also means that even after the initial studies, safety is continuously checked. There are many safety monitoring systems that watch for adverse effects and possible side effects that were not seen in clinical trials. If an unexpected adverse event is seen, experts quickly study it further to assess whether it is a true safety concern. Experts then decide whether changes are needed in the vaccine recommendations.

HDOH is also monitoring for possible adverse events and for any announcements from FDA and CDC. This monitoring is critical to help ensure that the benefits continue to outweigh the risks for people who receive vaccines.

If any vaccine was found to be unsafe, FDA, CDC and HDOH would let the public and medical providers know.

When will Hawai`i reach herd immunity?

Herd immunity refers to a situation where most of the population is immune to an infectious disease, either from previous infection or vaccination. This provides indirect protection (i.e., “herd immunity” or “herd protection”) to people who are not immune to the disease because it makes it harder for the disease to spread. With herd immunity, vaccines have successfully controlled deadly contagious diseases such as measles and polio, and many others.

Reaching herd immunity through vaccination sometimes has drawbacks, though. Protection from some vaccines can decrease a little over time, requiring revaccination (like the flu). Sometimes people don't get all of the shots that they need to be completely protected from a disease. In addition, some people may object to vaccines because of religious objections, fears about the possible risks or skepticism about the benefits.

Because COVID-19 is new, experts do not know what percentage of people would need to get vaccinated to achieve herd immunity for COVID-19, though many experts say it's 70% or higher. This is why it is still important to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and protect individuals at increased risk of severe illness, including older adults and people of any age with underlying health conditions. When possible, get a COVID-19 vaccine. Also, take steps to reduce the risk of infection: wear your mask, keep your distance, and wash your hands.