Lauren Loor is the Statewide Program Manager for Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL) Initiative.…
Improving Accessibility to COVID-19 Resources and Beyond
We have an exciting announcement that will help you better access our COVID-19 resources as well as other programs at HIPHI! We redesigned our website and are excited about its new look and navigation. Visit hiphi.org and in the bottom left hand corner of the site, you will see a white icon of a person within a blue circle. Click on the icon and you will be taken to an accessibility menu. You can click on many features to support your needs; make the text bigger, adjust the color contrast, alter text spacing, pause animations, or change to a dyslexia friendly font. We hope the improvements allow you to navigate through our site with ease. As we are committed to equity and inclusion, we will continue to improve our website’s accessibility. Check out the new site and don’t forget to click on programs to find the support you need!
UPCOMING PHA WEBINAR
FEDERAL UPDATES
Moderna Vaccine is Renamed Spikevax with Full FDA Approval
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine full approval after being available under emergency use authorization (EUA) for individuals 18 years of age and older since December 18, 2020. The approved vaccine will be renamed Spikevax with the same formulation as the EUA Moderna vaccine. To receive full approval, Spikevax had to meet the FDA’s rigorous standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality.
STATEWIDE UPDATES
Latest COVID-19 Emergency Proclamation
Governor David Ige has signed the latest COVID-19 emergency proclamation, and the current COVID restrictions will remain in effect. This proclamation officially adds cruise ship passengers to abide by the Safe Travels Hawaiʻi requirements. Cruise ships have already been following Safe Travels requirements through port agreements with the State of Hawaiʻi – which requires passengers to show a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination prior to deboarding.
How Federal Funds Were Used For COVID-19 Response in Hawai‘i
Governor David Ige shared how the State of Hawaiʻi allocated all the $1.6 billion received last May, from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The ARPA funds were used to support critical services, respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency, and promote economic recovery and ensure equitable outcomes for those hit hard by pandemic. For a list of where the funds were allocated, click here.
COUNTY UPDATES
Maui County
TODAY, February 1, free COVID-19 home self-test kits will be distributed at the War Memorial Stadium parking lot in Wailuku from 3 to 6 p.m. Entrance to the War Memorial Stadium parking lot will be via Kanaloa Avenue near the Ichiro “Iron” Maehara Baseball Stadium. Lunalilo and Liholiho streets will be restricted to residential traffic only during the test kit distribution. This distribution is drive-through only (walk-ups are not allowed); face masks are required. To AlohaClear testing at the stadium, please do not line up early in vehicles. Six test kits will be distributed per vehicle. Each test kit contains one test. The self-test kits are antigen home tests, with results available in 15 minutes.
‘Ai Hua food voucher program is to address food deficits and support local farmers by providing food vouchers to Native Hawaiian families. To qualify at least one household member must be Native Hawaiian and a resident of Maui island with proof of income loss due to pandemic. Applications are being accepted here. For questions about the program, contact Jennifer McGurn at MEO by phone at (808) 243-4360 or by email jennifer.mcgurn@meoinc.org.
Mayor Michael Victorino announced that he will convene a virtual COVID-19 Discussion Panel from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, February 4, via the BlueJeans video conferencing platform. Have questions about COVID-19, its variants, vaccinations, boosters and testing; and how state and county governments and their partners are responding to public health and economic concerns of Maui County residents? You may email your questions to Mayors.Office@co.maui.hi.us.
City & County of Honolulu
The City can use federal funds to help communities across O‘ahu to recover from the COVID-19 public health emergency and to build a sustainable future. You are invited to share your opinion on how federal recovery funds could best meet the needs of our communities. Take the Fiscal Recovery Plan Community Engagement Survey!
Oʻahu Homeowner Assistance Fund provides mortgage and utility assistance, as well as housing and legal counseling, for homeowners on Oʻahu impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is managed by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) on behalf of the State of Hawaiʻi. Qualified applicants may be able to receive up to $30,000 in funding through the program to help cover mortgages, property taxes, utility payments, homeowner association fees, and other expenses. Priority will be for homeowners who are earning at or below 100% area median income (AMI) or are considered socially disadvantaged. Homeowners with questions can contact CNHA at ohaf@hawaiiancouncil.org or 808-596-8155, option 1, during regular business hours. Apply today!
STATEWIDE RESOURCES
Tune in to a Radiothon with Local Performers, Prizes and COVID-19 Information
On Saturday, February 5, FilCom CARES will be hosting a radiothon from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. hosted by Larry Ordonez, Clemen Montero and Jovanie de la Cruz. Tune in by radio at KPHI 96.7 FM /1130 AM, KNDI 1270 AM, or KKNE 940 AM. You may also join via Facebook at Larry Ordonez Music, Filcom CARES Hawai‘i or Ethnic Education Hawai‘i. Prizes will be awarded throughout the event, including a Lechon valued at 500 dollars!
NIH Study: COVID-19 Vaccination and Fertility
COVID-19 vaccination does not affect the chances of conceiving a child, according to a study of more than 2,000 couples that was funded by the National Institutes of Health. Researchers found no differences in the chances of conception if either male or female partner had been vaccinated, compared to unvaccinated couples. Learn more by clicking here.
“Just a Minute!” Video Series with Dr. Peter Marks
“Just a Minute!” video series, Dr. Peter Marks, director of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, discusses why you should get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster even if you previously had COVID-19. The latest episode discusses why you should get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster even if you previously had COVID-19.
What Clinicians Need to Know About Oral Antiviral Medications for COVID-19
The emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for the new oral antiviral medications Molnupiravir and Paxlovid™ (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) supplement current therapeutic efforts to decrease hospitalizations and prevent severe COVID-19 and death. This recorded webinar, What Clinicians Need to Know About Oral Antiviral Medications for COVID-19 will provide an update on the Omicron variant, recent EUAs, treatment guidelines, patient prioritization, and resources for healthcare providers.
Communications Tool: Building Bridges
Bridging statements can be an effective communications tool to stay grounded in core messages and build trust with fact-based messaging. Public health communicators can play a vital role in the pandemic by focusing on the most important and factual information available through the use of bridging statements. Download the Building Bridges resource here.
Lessons From the Field: Promoting Vaccine Confidence
The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) recently released a Vaccine Confidence Toolkit that provides key lessons learned from select immunization programs and stakeholders that have substantial experience addressing vaccine hesitancy and vaccine confidence in their communities.
PUBLIC HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Masks are one of the most important ways to stop the spread of COVID-19. This PSA created by the COVIDLATINO.org project explains why it’s important to wear a mask. COVIDLATINO provides critical information on COVID-19 for Latinx communities across the U.S. The project provides free animations and infographics, available in English and Spanish on their website and all materials have been designed to be shared.
DO YOU HAVE RESOURCES OR INFORMATION ON COVID-19 TO SHARE?
If you have any resources or updates we should include in our next email or on our website, feel free to contact us at covidresponse@hiphi.org.
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