Man doesn’t understand vaccination delay
I would like to get vaccinated.
But I can’t because Kaua‘i has not yet reached my “1c” designated group.
I’m wondering why we have not moved more quickly to vaccinate Kaua‘i’s 50,000 eligible residents, give or take.
When you take away those under 18 years old, we are probably looking at less than 50,00 people. I advocate teachers, front-line workers, essential workers, those with serious health conditions and folks 75 years or older getting vaccinated first, obviously.
But how long can it take to vaccinate 50,000 people? Is it the lack of vaccine? Is it the health department doesn’t feel a sense of urgency because we have so few cases?
Is it the lack of personnel to vaccinate people?
Is it the online appointment system that may be overwhelmed?
Is the state throttling our supply of vaccine to focus on O‘ahu and Maui?
I don’t know because no one from the county is explaining why the process is so bogged down. Other states are way ahead of us. We are set to re-open in the beginning of April. If we have the supply, there is absolutely no reason the entire population of those wanting a shot shouldn’t be able to get one before we open up.
What exactly is the hang-up?
Let’s move forward more quickly so we can get back to semi-normal.
Mike Vallee, Kalaheo
Obviously your understanding of being vaccinated is not quite correct. You cannot just ask for a vaccination without getting the coronavirus first. This will do no good to get a shot. The virus attacks via our nose and mouths. And it happens when we breathe each others air space that we transmit these little water droplets that may carry the coronavirus. Our bodies cannot recognize these virus. A vaccine can help strengthen our immune system, but it takes chemicals in our bodies to a point where it builds up to protect itself against the virus. Just taking the vaccines cannot accomplish this. We need to learn to defend against it. Sort of speaking. So a request of vaccination to be done may not work to ward off a virus.
You really have no idea what you are talking about. Please do not join the discussion of this important issue.
Sorry Vamp, but it’s obvious that you are not a trained health care professional because.. “Obviously YOUR understanding of being vaccinated is not quite correct”. A vaccine doesn’t “strengthen” our immune system, it “activates” our immune system. I’ll explain it in a simplified way, it goes like this: You get an injection of vaccine to a certain virus, this signals your body’s immune system to create antibodies to that virus (typically 2 weeks to develop antibodies), when you would then become exposed to that virus at a future point your immune system recognizes the virus and attacks it to stop it from replicating or making you sick. That is how a vaccine works.. You do not need to have coronavirus prior to getting vaccinated, that is just false and misleading information… Take it from a health care professional.
So, what I’m hearing you saying , “don’t take the vaccine until you experience the covid-19 virus!” ARE YOU NUTS! The reason you take the vaccine is to build immunities against the virous.
Where do you learn things? Honestly, what are you even saying? There’s a saying you should remember. “Its better to keep your mouth shut and have people think you’re an idiot rather than open it and prove everyone right”
You have to get the virus 1st before you can get the vaccine? You lost me. That’s not true nor the way vaccines work.
The answer to all of these questions is No. If there is nothing broken, don’t attempt to fix it. That still works.
According to statistics posted by the State of Hawaii, Kauai lost 7,500 jobs in the final quarter of 2020. That number includes every sector of business, large and small. From government employees to bar tenders. Unemployment on Kauai is through the roof and tourism (the most important commodity currently available on the island) is at or close to being at a all time low. Forecast for 2021seem dark economically unless there occurs an immediate reversal in the policies currently being attempted. In simpler terms Kauai is totally screwed in the foreseeable future if the necessary changes continue to be slow walked and hampered by indecision and incompetence of elected officials unaffected by the disasters suffered by the people they are supposed to be serving. You know, the voters with long memories. Open Kauai now!!!
Geez, Mark,
Your opinion about whether or not Kauai should rejoin the state Safe Travels program is clear, but not every single letter to TGI is an opportunity to get back up the same soap box. The letter you commented on was a question about vaccine status, not unemployment status or Safe Travels. And BTW, if you didn’t already notice, Kauai has already stated plans to rejoin Safe Travels. Enough already.
I am in the same boat Mike, along with others. I think that the answer to your question is that all the government workers in their closed offices and teachers in their closed schools were done first. If they are not facing the public, why the vaccinations out of turn? Or, if they are vaccinated, then open the offices and schools. Hopefully they get to our group in two weeks, unless they bump the hospitality workers in front of us, which should not be allowed. If you are a hospitality worker and want to re open, fine, but then you should take your chances with the virus until all kupuna and at risk people are vaccinated.
My son is wondering the same thing. He’s the only one in the family who hasn’t been vaccinated.
While Hawaii is just getting around to vaccinating people 70 and above, the state is practically dead last–somewhere between 47th and 50th–in vaccinating older folks, including 6 states already offering vaccines to 50 and older. At least 14 of those states which are ahead have the same or better prioritizing, in other words also offering vaccinations to teachers, essential and grocery workers, and high-risk–as well as kupuna. Hawaii is also in the bottom third in terms of available vaccines used, falling to 72% according to a NY Times study published Mar. 4th. Many of the states which are ahead in the race to vaccinate older Americans are much larger (NY, PA, CA, FL, MI, etc.) while all but three are bigger in land area, with hard to reach rural populations. …So what gives, Hawaii? A new meaning to ‘Kauai time?’ The letter correctly ask questions we deserve answers to.
Now that the list of states that have opted to drop required masking, and other decisions that may endanger others, I propose that ALL visitors from these areas be banned from visiting Kauai…period! See how lifting these “rules” in other states, affects Kauai and Hawaii residents. Open in August or September! Dont expect Kauai residents to risk their lives and families lives for the sake of your suffering businesses.
I wholeheartedly agree…and not only that, I am in favor of cutting off federal funding to those states (e.g.TX and MS) whose governors have eliminated the mask mandate and fully reopened all businesses. The CDC is there for a reason and it’s NOT to have their recommendations ignored. It’s because of these moronic officials it will take ages for us to get Covid behind us and the same negligence will breed more mutations of the virus. It’s questionable whether our vaccines will even be effective against them.
Participating with state guidelines in opening Kauai to visitors is good news. Unfortunately for many of us aching to reunite with our children and grandchildren, the timing follows most school vacations leaving costly resort bubbling if we want our families here over the break.
Okay. I’m sorry. Make sure you post it correctly. If someone dies, then blame the correct politician and put their names down. Because I could have sworn the votes come out to be only at 14% popular votes. This looks pathetic.