KALAHEO — Zephyr Bundschuh was excited about getting his COVID-19 vaccine for keiki ages 5 to 11 years old, bouncing and flitting about the various places inside the Kalaheo Neighborhood meeting room while his dad and brother finished the paperwork.
“Again?” Marsha Nager asked the 7-year-old as he plopped back into the chair while his brother completed his paperwork. “Why don’t you ask the Po‘ipu Pickers if they can play some Christmas music?”
The Bundschuh family was just one of the steady stream of families seeking COVID-19 vaccines for their keiki at the first Department of Health mobile vaccine clinic for keiki vaccines that opened Wednesday at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
“We’ll be at the Hanapepe Neighborhood Center Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.,” said Lauren Guest, the Kaua‘i Deputy District Health Officer. “Then, we’ll be at the Hanalei Neighborhood Center (10 a.m. to noon), and at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center (2 to 4 p.m.) Saturday. No appointments are needed. This is for walk-ins. We want to make getting the keiki vaccines as easy as possible.”
On Monday, the Department of Health Mobile clinic opens at the Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center from 4 to 6 p.m.
“We’re excited that there are so many opportunities all around the island for keiki 5 to 11 years old to be vaccinated,” Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman said. “It’s important for parents to know that if they get their keiki their vaccine this week, and then get their second dose three weeks later, they will have received both doses two weeks before Christmas. That means they’ll be fully vaccinated by Christmas Day. It’s a great holiday gift to your keiki to get them vaccinated now and make sure that they are as safe as they can be over the holidays.”
More opportunities for the keiki vaccine take place Saturday when the Ho‘ola Lahui Mobile clinic will be available Saturday at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center, and at Isenberg Park in Lihu‘e from 9 to 11 a.m. As with the other sites, no appointment is needed for keiki ages 5 to 11 to receive their COVID-19 vaccine.
The Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waimea is administering keiki vaccines on Nov. 17, and Dec. 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. No appointment is needed for ages 5 through 11, only.
The Wilcox Medical Center is available on Nov. 23 from 3 to 7 p.m. for keiki vaccines. Appointments are required by visiting wilcoxhealth.org/Vaccine.
Kaiser Permanent Lihu‘e is administering vaccine for ages 5 years and up, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They are closed noon to 1 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted, and appointments can be arranged at kp.org.
The Longs Drugs at Kukui Grove is open for vaccines seven days a week for ages 5 years and older. Appointments are required by visiting cvs.com/vaccine.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
Old people with chronic diseases an are taking long term potent medications, are dying with covid, hurry up vaccinate all the Kindergartners.