As the holiday season approaches, the state Department of Health strongly urges residents to ensure they are up to date with their COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble emphasized the increased risk of COVID-19 and influenza during the holidays due to heightened travel and social gatherings. “DOH recommends everyone 6 months and older get the updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines to protect themselves as well as others, especially our kupuna and those who are immunocompromised,” Dr. Kemble stated.
Despite the recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the latest COVID-19 vaccine, uptake across the U.S. has been low. Only 7% of adults and 2% of children in the nation have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine targeting the most recent variants.
In Hawaii, approximately 98,738 doses of the updated vaccine have been administered, making up nearly 7% of the state’s population, according to DOH data.
However, with the end of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency declared six months ago, there seems to be a lack of urgency among most residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccinations.
Dr. Scott Miscovich of Premier Medical Group is seeing a decline in vaccination rates among his younger patients. He emphasized the importance of the updated 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccines targeting the XBB lineages of the omicron variant and urged individuals to consider the evolving nature of the virus.
While Hawaii’s infection and hospitalization rates have decreased, COVID-19-related deaths continue to rise. The state’s COVID-19 death toll reached 2,075, with most fatalities occurring among residents aged 65 and older.
As the pandemic continues, DOH highlighted the significance of updated vaccines in protecting against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. They also noted the challenge in tracking COVID-19 metrics due to a shift towards home tests instead of PCR tests, which are not reported to the state.
Despite the decline in cases, Dr. Miscovich anticipates an increase over the holidays due to gatherings and minimal masking. He emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated, especially for those at higher risk.
It’s a reminder that COVID-19 is still a threat and that precautions should be taken, particularly for the safety of older individuals. Dr. Miscovich urged, “Please get vaccinated – consider this a virus that is now with us forever. People over 65 are at risk.”
