Lauren Loor is the Statewide Program Manager for Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL) Initiative.…
An Update on COVID-19 in Hawai‘i
We’re excited to announce Keiki Heroes has joined the HIPHI ‘ohana!
Keiki Heroes is a community initiative created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support local kids, families, educators and health care professionals. The goal of the work is simple but powerful: our keiki can be empowered to be the heroes of their own stories, not victims of the pandemic. The work has included education around COVID-19 safety, social-emotional wellbeing and physical health. We are excited to sustain Keiki Heroes’ current projects and build on health education for youth beyond the pandemic.
FEDERAL UPDATES
COVID-19 Boosters for Everyone Five Years and Older
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster to everyone five years and older. Keiki ages five to eleven can now receive Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot. Those eligible can receive a booster five months after their initial vaccination series shot.
Third Round of FREE COVID-19 Self Test Kits
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order a 3rd round of FREE at-home tests from COVID.gov/tests. Every household address can place three separate orders for eight free antigen COVID-19 tests. Need help placing an order for your at-home tests? Call 1-800-232-0233
FDA Plans to Review Data for COVID-19 Vaccination for Infants (Six Months and Older)
On June 15, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to hold virtual meetings of its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) to discuss requests from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech on emergency use authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines for children six months and older. View upcoming meetings here.
STATE UPDATES
Hawaii’s Recovery: A Look at Tourism
As we recover from the pandemic, statistics show a 2.5 percent increase in travelers in comparison to the previous year. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) reports monthly visitors; In March 2022, the state had a total of 788,931 visitors.
COVID-19 Transmission Levels
The CDC data tool: COVID-19 Community Levels shows Honolulu, Kaua‘i, and Maui County at high community level and Hawai‘i county at medium community level.
Recommended actions for high COVID-19 community levels:
- Wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation
- Avoid large gatherings
- Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines
- Get tested if you have symptoms
- If you are at high risk for severe illness, practice social distancing and good hygiene, avoid poorly ventilated locations, and monitor your health daily in addition to the above actions
STATEWIDE RESOURCES
A Guide to Promoting Health Care Workforce Well-Being: During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity to make fundamental and lasting change to better support health care workers well-being to foster a thriving workforce. This guide aims to support the health care workforce at all levels with actionable tools for combating burnout, fatigue, and emotional distress during and after the pandemic!
Safe Gatherings Toolkit
With graduations and summer celebrations approaching, the “Keeping Our ʻOhana Safe” guide is here to offer a framework for decisions you can make for yourself when considering a large gathering.
The Impact of the Pandemic: Rising Stress and Burnout in Public Health
The Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS), conducted between September 2021 and January 2022, found a majority of public health workers are satisfied with their job, but experience high rates of stress, burnout, and post-traumatic stress symptoms challenge that dedication.
How Right Now Campaign
How Right Now is an initiative to address and cope with a variety of emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. You may easily click on what you’re feeling to find a variety of resources to support you!
COVID-19 Talk Story: Impact on Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders
- Date: Wednesday, June 1 at 3:00 p.m.
- Panel:
- Dr. Sheri Daniels, Executive Director, Papa Ōla Lokahi
- Alisi Tulua, Program Director, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Data Policy Lab – UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
- Neil Tinkham, Communications Specialist, SoCal Pacific Islander COVID-19 Response Team.
- Register today!
May is Mental Health Month!
With the devastating number of one million COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., we want to share resources to support families who have lost a loved one from COVID-19.
There are stories and faces behind these numbers.
Meet some of them through Anesthesiologist Claire Rezba’s work tracking lost health workers early in the pandemic, and Denby Fawcett’s story in Civil Beat highlighting three Hawai‘i residents lost early to COVID-19.
Resources:
Hawai‘i Virtual Family Assistance Program
Bereavement Network of Hawai‘i Resource List
Hawai‘i Psychological Association Bereavement Resources
Because I Said I Would Bereavement Support program
Mental Health America provides many resources as well as a toolkit specific to Mental Health Month, which provides materials and resources you or your organization can use for outreach events this month.
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