Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Underway on Big Island

Mass vaccination for COVID-19 has begun on the Big Island.

On Feb. 25, Kona Community Hospital launched its first mass clinic at the Kona Aquatic Center, administering 563 shots to kūpuna 75 years or older and educators. Moving forward, KCH will continue its weekly clinics on Thursdays at the aquatic center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Additional clinic days at the Kona Aquatic Center Gym will be held by the Department of Health and West Hawai´i Community Health Center. See below for a schedule of clinic days.

To date, KCH has vaccinated 5,564 people, 2,247 of which are kūpuna. At Kohala Hospital, 186 individuals have received both shots of the vaccine.

KCH’s pre-registration form with instructions can be downloaded here. KCH officials indicate the form must be downloaded, completed then sent to KCHCOVIDvaccine@hhsc.org.

Hilo Medical Center held its first mass vaccination clinic on Feb. 20 where 2,000 shots were administered. The hospital’s next vaccination event is on March 13 at the Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium where the 2,000 recipients vaccinated last month are scheduled for their second dose and another 2,000 additional essential workers and ambulatory kūpuna 75 years and older (who can walk a mile or more and stand for 30 minutes) are being scheduled for this closed clinic.

HMC’s hospital clinic is still focused on kūpuna. Vaccinations are not yet available for kūpuna 65 years and older, caregivers and people with pre-existing conditions.

To obtain a vaccine through HMC, one must go through a two-step registration process. Click here to register and schedule an appointment.