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Vaccine Eligibility Expands to Hawai‘i Residents 16 and Older

AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes
A batch of syringes filled with Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are ready for inoculations at a COVID-19 mobile vaccination clinic in Pomona, Calif., Friday, March 5, 2021.

All Hawai‘i residents age 16 and older are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, meeting President Joe Biden's deadline for states to open up vaccinations to all U.S. residents 18 and older by April 19.

The entire state is now in phase 2 of its vaccination plan. Honolulu County joined Hawai‘i, Maui and Kaua‘i counties which advanced to phase 2 in early April.

“Schedule your vaccine as soon as you can,” said Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char. “We don’t have enough to vaccinate everyone immediately, but you can schedule your shot now. If you can’t get an appointment today, you’ll be able to get one in the near future.”

Residents age 16 and 17 are reminded to seek appointments for Pfizer vaccines as it has Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for people age 16 and older. The Moderna vaccine is reserved for people 18 and above, the department said.

Distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine remains paused, per recommendation from federal officials after they received reports of serious side effects seen in six women who had received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. About 7.2 million doses of the one-dose vaccine had been administered in the U.S. as of April 14.

About 44% of Hawai‘i's adults have received at least one vaccine dose, according to the state's data portal, which is 35% of the total population.

Older adults who may need additional assistance with online sign-up or who qualify for transportation services are invited to call Aloha United Way 2-1-1 service.

Nearly 40% of the total U.S. population has received at least one vaccine dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 51% of people age 18 and older have received at least one dose.

Sophia McCullough is a digital news producer. Contact her at news@hawaiipublicradio.org.
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