HONOLULU (KHON2) — The FDA recently limited Moderna’s vaccine to seniors 65 and older and people as young as six months old with at least one underlying health condition.
But the West Coast Health Alliance, of which Hawaii is a part, has recommended vaccinating all individuals aged two to 64 years old who want it.
Confused? You’re not alone. This is why the Governor’s Emergency Proclamation simplifies the issue, allowing Hawaii’s pharmacists to keep vaccinating anyone three and older without a doctor’s prescription.
“If you’re three and older, you can go to a pharmacy, and if you have insurance, insurance will cover it. And so the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as the American Academy of Family Physicians, they do recommend that children and adults do get vaccinated for COVID this year,” said Dr. Jannet Lee, emergency room physician and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at JABSOM.
Governor Josh Green said in a statement that the proclamation ensures Hawaii families, especially those in rural and neighbor island communities, continue to have access to COVID-19 vaccines, saying, “Cutting off access for healthy children and adults would put Hawaii families at risk.”
He went on to say, “As a physician, father and Governor, I have to stand up for science and evidence-based protection for our local families and will always act to make sure care remains accessible for anyone who needs it.”
Doctors say the science hasn’t changed about the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine in preventing serious illness and hospitalization. They say the emergency proclamation comes at a critical time when respiratory illnesses are on the rise.
“We are seeing it quite a bit, and people coming to the emergency room because of fever, and it turns out to be COVID. And so I think that it would be an error to think that it’s not around. It’s definitely around,” said Dr. Lee.
If you’re still not sure about the COVID-19 vaccine for you or your family, the recommendation is to speak with a medical professional you trust.
The proclamation is in effect until Nov. 22, unless it’s extended.