The Hawai‘i Immunization Coalition (HIC) is a state-wide, community-based group of public and private organizations, healthcare providers, public health professionals, and concerned individuals who strive to promote effective strategies and create opportunities to advance the status of immunization in Hawai‘i.
HIC began as the Keiki Booster Club in 1996 as an informal committee, fully funded by the Hawai‘i State Department of Health, Immunization Program. In 2006, HIC became a non-profit organization with an all-volunteer Board of Directors. In 2024, HIC joined and officially became a program of the Hawai‘i Public Health Institute.
Mission: To ensure that all families in Hawai’i are appropriately vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Our focus: Immunizations across the lifespan.
Partnerships: Encourage partnerships among the community health systems, volunteer groups, professional groups, business and other entities to improve immunization rates.
National Recommendations: Endorse national childhood and adult immunization recommendations.
On Time: Advocate for on-time, age-appropriate immunizations of at least 90% of children before age two, focusing on those children most at-risk for disease.
Increasing Rates: Improve youth and adult immunization rates in Hawai‘i.
Strategies: Promote identified immunization provider strategies for raising immunization rates.
Education: Provide immunization education opportunities for providers and the community, including safety & efficacy, recommendations and importance.
Registry: Promote use of Immunization Registry in Hawai‘i.
Fundraising: Develop and implement fundraising strategies to ensure continued financial support for coalition activities and initiatives.
The HIC Advisory Committee meets monthly to provide strategic oversight. Advisory committee members have extensive experience and knowledge of vaccines and immunizations and serve a key role in driving HIC’s priorities and activities.
- Ron Balajadia
- Sandra Chang
- Chevelle Davis
- Janelle Jinbo
- Kelly Miyasato
- Jodie Sanada
- Cassandra Simonson
- Christina Teel
- An Vo
- Rodson Zorilla
Committees
Develops and plans educational opportunities and events for healthcare providers and other professionals, including webinars, trainings, and conferences.
Chair: Janelle Jinbo, DNP
Advocates and tracks bills, policies, and other legislative actions related to the advancement of HIC’s immunization priorities.
Chair: Cassandra Simonson, MD
Addresses issues on vaccines that specifically prevent cancers, mainly vaccines for human papillomavirus and hepatitis B virus.
Chair: May Rose Dela Cruz, DrPH
Our student-led group focuses on educational outreach on the importance of vaccinations and disease prevention to student populations from high school to university.
Chair: Rodson Zorilla, PhD Candidate