Big Island Hospital Offers Booster Shots to Certain Individuals

It is expected that the Biden administration will recommend most inoculated US citizens receive a COVID-19 booster shot. Third jabs have already been approved for the immunocompromised and are now available on the Big Island.

Queen’s North Hawai´i Community Hospital announced that as of Tuesday, Aug. 17, it was offering the booster to patients who qualify. It is the first healthcare facility in Hawai´i County to offer the shot publicly.

It will be available every Wednesday and Friday, beginning Aug. 18, from 7 am to 6 pm. No appointments are necessary. There is no cost and insurance is not required to receive the booster shot. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

The vaccination clinic is located on the south side of the hospital near the Emergency Room.

Examples of those who may qualify include patients undergoing active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies, recipients of solid-organ transplants who are taking immunosuppressive therapy, those with advanced or untreated HIV, chronic dialysis patients, and patients with medical conditions with varied immunodeficiency such as sickle cell disease, end stage renal disease and chronic liver disease.

The hospital said in a press release that the booster is the same administration and dosage as the initial vaccine. If an individual received the Pfizer vaccine, they should also receive a Pfizer booster. If an individual received Moderna, they should receive a Moderna booster and go to a clinic that offers that option. Those who received a Johnson & Johnson single-shot dose should not receive a booster at this time, though US health officials are discussing it.

Those seeking a booster should wait a minimum of four weeks until after their second dose. Patients will complete a pre-assessment form as well as an attestation form, which will be reviewed by the clinic nurse to determine qualifications.

There is no need for approval by the patient’s primary care provider. For more information, visit covid.queens.org/vaccine-booster-faq/.