QNHCH Encourages People to Get Vaccinated

Queen’s North Hawai’i Community Hospital in Waimea is offering the best Black Friday deals around with free COVID-19 vaccinations for anyone age 5 and older, and boosters for anyone 18 or older.

The QNHCH Vaccination Clinic will be open 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 26.

“It is our hope that people will stop by the clinic either before or after shopping and get their vaccination. And now that we’re vaccinating kids age 5 and up, families can get their shots at the same time,” said clinic coordinator Michelle Aikau. “In addition, we are now offering the Pfizer booster to anyone over 18 who received their second Pfizer or Moderna vaccination at least six months ago, or their J&J vaccination two months ago.”

The Pfizer and Moderna two-shot vaccines became available for U.S. adults in December 2020 after an FDA panel approved both for emergency use. The vaccines were first given to essential workers, including health care professionals, before being rolled out to the general public earlier this year. The one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine received emergency authorization for use in adults at the end of February and started rolling out in March.

Some states began distributing the vaccines to all adults by the end of March. Everyone age 18 and older in the nation became eligible for the vaccine by mid-April.

The Pfizer vaccine has been available for children age 5-12 since May.

According to the Hawaii Health Department, 72.4% of the state’s population was fully vaccinated as of Tuesday morning. Hawaii County’s vaccination rate stood at 68%.

No appointment is necessary to get the vaccine at the QNHCH clinic. There is no weight minimum for ages 5-11 and proof of age is not required. A parent or guardian must accompany the child and remain with the child throughout the vaccination and observation process.

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