KAPA‘A — Carrie Vilela celebrated her 99th birthday on Sept. 21, and Thursday was in line for the Pfizer booster shot at the Kaua‘i mobile vaccine clinic van at the Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center.
Down the road, Emily Rich, a nurse at The Clinic and Urgent Care at Po‘ipu, proudly showed off her booster badge, or Band-Aid, as she headed for breakfast at the Coconut Marketplace in Waipouli.
“We just got our booster shot at the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital clinic,” Rich said. “They offer the Pfizer first, second and third shots on Thursdays. Now, we’re off to breakfast — boosters and breakfast.”
State Department of Helath Kaua‘i Deputy District Health Officer Lauren Guest, speaking on the county’s COVID-19 briefing video, said that last week the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine for certain individuals, but not everyone.
“Booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine are now available for those 65 years and older, or adults with underlying health conditions, or who are at high risk for occupational or institutional exposure,” Guest said. “If you are in one of these groups, boosters are available six months following your second Pfizer dose.”
To accommodate an increase in demand for COVID-19 vaccines, Wilcox Medical Center announced expanded COVID-19 vaccine clinic hours that took effect on Thursday when it offered shots from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in addition to its regular Wednesday vaccine clinic, and Thursday through Saturday mobile clinics that are a collaborative effort between Wilcox Health, County of Kaua‘i and the Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation Kaua‘i Region.
Wilcox is administering the Comirnaty vaccine, formerly called Pfizer, for ages 12 and older. Wilcox also administers the Moderna vaccine, and the Johnson &Johnson single-dose vaccine, for ages 18 and older. Minors, ages 12 to 17 years old, must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to their appointment or walk-in visit.
Appointments can be scheduled by visiting wilcoxhealth.org/vaccine. Appointments are required for all third doses, including the Pfizer and mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) for immunocompromised individuals. Walk-ins are available for the first and second doses only.
Guest said Pfizer boosters are available at Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital and SMMH by walk-in only. The KVMH clinic is open Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The SMMH clinic in the hospital’s auditorium is open Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Pfizer boosters are available at pharmacies at Longs Drugs, Safeway, Walmart, Costco and Kaiser Permanente. A full list of locations is available at kauai.gov/vaccine.
“Booster doses have only been approved for certain groups who received the Pfizer vaccine at this time,” Guest said. “Recommendations for Moderna and Johnson &Johnson are expected in the coming weeks.”
The Kaua‘i mobile vaccine clinic is at the Hanapepe Recreation Center today from noon to 3 p.m., and Saturday at the Hanalei Neighborhood Center from noon to 3 p.m.
Ho‘ola Lahui Hawai‘i will also be joining the Marshallese Association of Kaua‘i at the Marshallese group’s community event at Isenberg Park that starts from 9 a.m. on Saturday.
“Kaua‘i is falling behind the rest of the state on vaccinations,” said Sol Kanoho, Kaua‘i Fire Department assistant chief. “Sixty-five percent of us are now fully vaccinated, while the statewide rate is at nearly 68%.”
