Hawaii National Guard surpasses 65,000 COVID-19 vaccinations

Photo By 1st Lt. Anyah Peatross | Spc. Jordan T. Clapson, a medical specialist from the Task Force Medical, Hawaii National Guard Joint Task Force administered a dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine to an Oʻahu resident at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center in Waianae, Hawaii on October 28, 2021. Army and Air National Guard medical personnel continue to support the State Department of Health at multiple sites statewide with administering COVID-19 vaccines to eligible recipients.  

HONOLULU, HI, UNITED STATES

10.28.2021

Story by 1st Lt. Anyah Peatross 

State of Hawaii, Department of Defense, Public Affairs Office

Hawaii National Guard Joint Task Force (HING JTF) has administered 65,091 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Hawaii residents ages 12 and older as of October 25, 2021.

At the request of the State Department of Health, the National Guard began in January supporting COVID-19 vaccinations in communities across Hawaii. Initially supporting eligible first and second dose recipients, and recently added booster shots.

“I’m proud that the Hawaii National Guard Joint Task Force was able to assist the State Department of Health and the Counties in achieving seventy-one percent of the Hawaiʻi population vaccinated.” Brig. Gen. Moses Kaoiwi Jr., the Hawaii National Guard Joint Task Force Commander stated. “All Hawaii National Guard medical personnel across the State, worked diligently to provide the assistance where it was needed. The low positivity rate indicates that our work has made a difference.”

Public vaccinations administered by the HING JTF were highest in Hawaiʻi County at 43,367 followed by Maui County with 11,658, the City & County of Honolulu with 5,648, and Kauaʻi County with 4,418 vaccinations. Military-trained medical professionals administered vaccines to the public at multiple health centers, hotels, convention halls, and pop-up clinics statewide.

Hawaii National Guard as of April 2020 has served communities at the request of the Governor, the Department of Health, the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, and various state and local agencies to keep communities safe and to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Presently, 627 Soldiers and Airmen from the HING JTF assist Hawaiʻi with its COVID-19 response administering COVID-19 vaccinations and rapid swab tests including passenger temperature screening at major airports, COVID-19 mapping, and public health outreach for at-risk communities, and distributing personal protective equipment.

• Date Taken: 10.28.2021
• Date Posted: 11.01.2021 13:15
• Story ID: 408152
• Location: HONOLULU, HI, US