Prepare NOW Hawaii

The start of hurricane season is just around the corner. And that means it’s time to make sure you and your family are vaccinated against COVID-19. By now you’ve probably heard or seen our messages dozens of times: set up a family emergency plan, put together an emergency kit for your household that includes at least two weeks of food, water, medicine, and other essentials, and make sure you have the means to receive communication when the power goes out. But this year we als...o want to emphasize the importance of getting vaccinated for COVID-19. If you and your family had to leave your home and head for a shelter because of a category-4 hurricane or damage caused by an earthquake, would you be protected? When dozens or hundreds of people are crowded into a shelter, we want to do whatever we can to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. The best way to do that is by getting vaccinated. Being vaccinated for COVID-19 protects you from getting the coronavirus in crowded conditions where social distancing and even mask-wearing may not be possible. It helps keep our community safe and bring us back to normalcy, even during hurricane season. For more ideas about preparing for hurricane season, and for information on getting vaccinated for COVID-19, see the links below. www.ready.gov/hurricanes hawaiicovid19.com/vaccination-registration

You may have heard that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for COVID-19 are based on a newer technology to prevent viral infections, by using mRNA (messenger RNA). If you ever wondered how that works exactly, or if you have any concerns, check out this webpage put together by CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention), which explains how they get the job done and why they are not harmful to the human body. www.cdc.gov//2019-nc/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html

If you are uncertain about getting vaccinated for COVID-19 and just want to have some straightforward questions answered, take a look at the Key Things to Know page at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to see if they have the information you’re looking for. www.cdc.gov/coronav/2019-ncov/vaccines/keythingstoknow.html And of course, we are always here to answer questions you may have as you make your decision.

Everyone age 16 and over is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This is great news because the more people we have fully vaccinated, the sooner life can return to normal. Get yourself and your loved ones registered to get vaccinated today. See below.

Hawaii has entered Phase 2 of the state’s rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. That means that all persons aged 16 and over are eligible. You can find out how to get registered to get vaccinated at this Hawaii Department of Health site: hawaiicovid19.com/vaccination-registration... You can read more about the Phase 2 news here: governor.hawaii.gov//doh-news-release-vaccine-eligibility-

Good news for people under 60: The State of Hawaii is expanding eligibility to get the COVID-19 vaccine to all those age 50 and up, starting next Monday (April 12). As part of President Biden’s efforts to expand vaccine eligible to the entire adult population, the age limit is expected to be lifted in the coming weeks as more vaccine doses become available. CDC recommends that you register to get vaccinated as soon as you are eligible. The sooner you get the vaccine, the soo...ner you’re protected. And the more people who are vaccinated, the sooner we can beat COVID-19 and get back to normal. Read more about this in the news release below: hawaiicovid19.com/vaccine-eligibility-expands-to-people-age

So you’ve gotten fully vaccinated it has been at least two weeks since you’ve had all the doses of your vaccine and now you’re ready to take on the world. Now that you’re at the maximum level of protection against COVID-19, what can you do differently (and what should you still do the same as before)? CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) has announced new mask guidance for fully vaccinated individuals, letting us know that it’s okay for fully vaccinated people... to not wear a mask in public, except in crowded places where they should continue wearing masks (because even fully vaccinated, there’s still a tiny possibility of spreading the coronavirus). And even though you’re fully vaccinated, you should continue practicing social distancing, both indoors and outdoors, and continue wearing a mask if you are within six feet of people not in your household. To find out more about what you can do now that you’re fully vaccinated, check out the CDC link below: www.cdc.gov/corona/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html

The start of hurricane season is just around the corner. Now is the time to make sure you and your family are ready, with an emergency plan, an emergency kit (with food, water, medicine, and other supplies to last at least two weeks), and a way to get communications from emergency sources. CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) have some excellent resources to get you started. Check out their website below: www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/before.html

Today (June 1) marks the beginning of the 2020 Central Pacific hurricane season, which runs six months until November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Central Pacific Hurricane Center is predicting a near or below-normal hurricane season in the region this year, due to near- or below-average ocean temperatures and an absence of El Niño in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean where hurricanes form. However, there is still a 20% chance that this... season will be above average. A total of 2 to 5 tropical cyclones (tropical depressions, named storms, and hurricanes) are predicted for the Central Pacific hurricane basin; a typical season is 4 to 6 tropical cyclones. It is not known how many will hit or come close to the state. A hurricane or other tropical storm can bring devastating winds and torrential rain even if it does not directly strike the islands. Because we do not know what is in store this season, the Office of Public Health Preparedness encourages all state residents to make sure they and their family are prepared for hurricanes and other emergencies. Because of the state’s isolation, Hawaii residents are vulnerable to shortages if infrastructure is damaged by a hurricane, earthquake, tsunami, or other disaster. That’s why all Hawaii residents are recommended to have an emergency kit with enough water, food, medicine, and other essentials that will last AT LEAST TWO WEEKS. The 2021 hurricane season comes as Hawaii, the rest of the United States, and countries around the globe continue to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although COVID-19 vaccines have helped are helping us fight the pandemic, this health crisis makes family emergency kits a greater challenge, since some essential goods or health products may not be easily available, so Hawaii residents are encouraged to get their kit together sooner rather than later. And of course, if you and your family are not yet vaccinated for COVID-19, we urge all eligible family members to do that as soon as possible. Hawaii residents are also encouraged to learn what to do before, during, and after a hurricane or other emergency. For more information on emergency kits, hurricane season, and disaster preparedness, visit these web pages: health.hawaii.gov/prepare/advisories/hurricane-season health.hawaii.gov/prepare/protect-your-family

Hundreds of millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far, with a very strong safety record. But side effects like soreness, redness, swelling, tiredness, headache, fever, etc., are still possible, and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) wants to know if you experience these or any other side effects. The CDC has set up V-safe as a way for you to let them know of any problems you may have following your vaccination. It also gives the...m a way to check in on you for more information. V-safe even provides a reminder about a second dose if you need one. You can learn more about V-safe and how to register at the website below: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vsafe.html