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Hawaiʻi House of Representative Members Required to Get Vaccinated

AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy

The Hawaiʻi House of Representatives will adopt a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for all House members and staff.

Any vaccine authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration is permitted. That includes Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.

All House members and staff will be required to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 30.

Any unvaccinated House members or employees must undergo weekly testing for COVID-19.

Proof of vaccination or PCR exam must be submitted to the Chief Clerk, who is responsible for administering this policy, the House said in a news release.

"The House of Representatives' top priority is the health and safety of Hawaiʻi residents. The most effective way to make this clear is to impose a vaccination requirement upon ourselves. State government must take the lead to protect Hawaiʻi residents," House Speaker Scott Saiki said.

The policy follows similar announcements from major Hawaiʻi hospital systems and the Hawaiʻi Department of Education regarding student-athletes.

The state reported 655 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.

Zoe Dym was a news producer at Hawaiʻi Public Radio.
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