LIHU‘E — In a recent study from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, professors of the Department of Communicology say there are a fair amount of residents surveyed statewide who are still not sure if they will take the vaccine.
Meanwhile, county and state officials say more than 39,000 doses of COVID-19 were adminsitered as of Thursday.
“The complication is that, while individuals may say they will get a vaccine, for several reasons, they may not be able to follow through,” Professor Hye-ryeon Lee said. “This issue, along with 30% of Hawai‘i adults expressing hesitancy about receiving a vaccine, is a concern.”
Professor Amy Ebesu Hubbard of the Department of Communicology said in Hawai‘i, 31% of the adult population have received at least one dose, and 36% have indicated that they will definitely get the vaccine.
Between 700 and 900 Hawai‘i residents were surveyed in each bi-weekly PULSE survey by the U.S Census Bureau.
The UH study also said 19% of respondents report that they will “probably” get vaccinated. This group, which includes individuals with different levels of education and of whom just over half are between 25 and 54 years of age, report concerns about perceived harm and deference to others as reasons for being hesitant.
Aida Reonal, 57, from Lihu‘e, an office worker at Kapa‘a High School, said she got the vaccine the first time it was available for state Department of Education employees..
“I want to travel and get the protection too,” Reonal said.
Chad Deal, 74, from Hanalei, said he normally doesn’t get the flu shot, but figured he should get the COVID-19 vaccine to help wipe the virus off the map.
“I have met others who on their second dose have had slight reactions, but not major,” Deal said. “I noticed a minor pain in lymph nodes on the armpit, which only lasted about two days. I received my second shot on March 18, a month after the first shot.
“I am not so concerned about my own safety, but I am concerned about others, especially those with underlying conditions. Doing my part to help our worldwide ‘ohana,” Deal said.
The UH study said 9% report they will “probably not” get vaccinated. This group is generally younger. This group shares concerns about safety and side effects with other groups, but is also concerned about whether a vaccine will work.
Anuhea Rapozo, 20, from Hanapepe, is not interested in taking the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I’m not taking the vaccine because I want to protect myself,” Rapozo said. “Last year, before COVID, I took a flu shot. Shortly after I got the flu shot, I was sick for three weeks, and the cough lasted a couple of months.”
The county video on Thursday indiciated more than 39,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given on Kaua‘i.
Mayor Derek Kawakami said there are three kinds of vaccines now available on the island: Pfizer and Moderna, which require two injections, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is single-dose.
Kawakami said the current priority groups in 1c are anyone 60 and older, anyone 16 and over who is at high risk, and all essential workers 16 and over.
“The top priority in this group is anyone working in the travel industry, restaurants or bars,” Kawakami said. “If you were eligible earlier — in group 1a or 1b — but didn’t get vaccinated, you are still eligible.”
Kawakami said vaccines are available at the state Department of Health clinic at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e, Wilcox Medical Center in Lihu‘e, Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waimea, Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital in Kapa‘a, Longs in Waipouli, ‘Ele‘ele and Koloa, for those 65 and older and certain essential workers. Ho’ola Lahui clinics also offer vaccines for their established patients. Certain other pharmacies are also offering vaccines.
“In short, most adult residents on Kaua‘i are now eligible for a vaccine,” Kawakami said. “If you would like a vaccine, but are unsure of your eligibility, we encourage you to complete a survey at kauai.gov/vaccine.”
According to the DOH, the state administered 568,376 COVID-19 vaccines statewide, and 10,333 vaccines in one day, as of March 24.
“While we know that some people are hesitant to be vaccinated, we have been gratified to see that hesitancy decrease over time,” said Dr. Janet Berreman, DOH Kaua‘i District health officer. “On Kaua‘i, we continue to see a high level of interest in being vaccinated.”
Berreman said over 35% of Kaua‘i residents have received an initial vaccination, more than 21% are fully vaccinated, and more are signing up every day.
“As more residents see friends, colleagues and family members being vaccinated — and the sense of relief that brings, as well as the enhanced personal safety when going about daily activities — we feel more comfortable being vaccinated ourselves,” Berreman said.
“With Kaua‘i opting back into the state’s Safe Travels program on April 5, we know there will be more travel and more travel-related cases of COVID-19.
“This is an especially important time for Kaua‘i residents to be vaccinated so that our community is well-protected against the spread of disease,” she said.
Berreman said anyone who isn’t sure if they are eligible to be vaccinated should complete the short survey at kauai.gov/vaccine. When it’s your turn, make an appointment to be vaccinated.
The DOH website regarding the vaccines is health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/#vaccine.
This article has been edited on Mar. 29 at 2:16 p.m. for accuracy.
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Stephanie Shinno, education, business, and community reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
It is not a vaccine. Take it from there
Under the photograph it says, “Emily Latimer of U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s staff.” Tulsi Gabbard is no longer a member of the House of Representatives, thank goodness!
The “vaccine” is an mRNA gene therapy which permanently alters your DNA and has not been fully safety tested. You have NO recourse to sue the vaccine manufacturers for injuries or adverse effects resulting from the vaccine and the VAERS system for vaccine adverse effects is reporting thousands of serious health issues (and a considerable number of deaths) from the moderna/Pfizer Covid “vaccines”.
Do NOT take this poison! The case numbers for Covid-19 are driven by PCR tests which result in a false positive rate of 97% when run at cycle counts of 35 and above (note that the majority of countries around the world were running at cycle counts of 40+). It’s a huge scam folks. Wake up and say no to the vaccine.
Sorry Jay, you’re misinformed. We don’t have RNA genes in our bodies. It’s DNA, The mRNA goes to the ribosomes, not the nucleus. The vaccines were tested on tens of thousands of volunteers before the current roll out and studies show they are working well. The few vaccinated people who do get Covid have had mild cases.
Thank you Dr. Weiner,
I had my first shot 25 days ago and am getting ready for the second in the Moderna series. People please don”t listen blindly to people like Jay. Jay is dangerous and might get you killed. Look at the long term effects of covid compared to the long term effects of the shot. I have lost 5 people in the last 6 months but only one was to covid. So when people say the numbers are all fake or the hospitals are fudging the numbers for money, I say they are liars, folks it time to take the gloves off and make these people support their fantasies with fact based in scientific truth. Challenge to you Jay, give your references, Just don’t include Fox news please.
“No, flu vaccines cannot cause flu illness. Flu vaccines given with a needle (i.e., flu shots) are made with either inactivated (killed) viruses, or with only a single protein from the flu virus. The nasal spray vaccine contains live viruses that are attenuated (weakened) so that they will not cause illness.”
– CDC, Misconceptions about Flu Vaccines
“No. None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines or COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.”
– CDC, Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines
But they can make you sick like the flu illness. Flu symptoms. Fever, chills, etc. ( well I know only this symptom )
I don’t want to remember all of it anyway.
I recommend Longs in Koloa. They are friendly, fast and efficient and use the J+J shot which is one shot and you are done. I had practically zero side effects from the J+J shot, and I have allergies. There was no line, I was there alone, and in 20 minutes I was out of there. You need to protect yourself from the one test mask-less infected that will be let loose on us on April 5th.
This is unapproved. Think about if you really want to be a guinea pig.