• Kona Community Hospital: Community Update – October 1, 2021

    October 04, 2021
    Kona Community Hospital: Community Update – October 1, 2021
     
    Aloha All,
     
    We are currently treating 5 COVID positive inpatients at KCH; 1 in our ICU and 4 in the hospital’s COVID unit. Inpatient numbers continue to trend down, which is encouraging. However, we strongly encourage community members to get the COVID vaccine if you have not already done so, and remember to:
     
    Wear a mask    *    Wash hands frequently     *    Maintain a safe social distance
     
    We want to extend a heartfelt mahalo to all KCH and Kohala Hospital healthcare workers. We are grateful that our dedicated employees show up to work daily to continually provide selfless lifesaving care to patients – including those with COVID. This has been a very difficult year for our healthcare heroes, and we salute their efforts.
     
    Please see today’s update below.
     
    Kona Community Hospital COVID-19 update for October 1, 2021 (as of 3:30pm) below:
    • Hospital-wide census: 62
    • 5  total COVID-19 patients
      • 1 ICU (of 6 total ICU patients)
      • 4 Med Surg COVID Unit 
      • 1 ventilator(s) in use for COVID patient(s)
      • 0 vaccinated COVID patients in-house
    • As of October 1, 2021 a cumulative total of 20 COVID-related deaths have occurred in the hospital (no change from last report).
     
    Current Testing sites: The KCH Emergency Department is NOT a public testing site.
    Visit County of Hawaii - COVID-19 Testing webpage for information and a listing of free community testing sites.
     
    New - Boosters: The Hawaii DOH has authorized Pfizer booster doses. However, first priority remains providing access to unvaccinated Individuals 65+, and those 50-64 with underlying conditions prioritized for booster
     
    The Hawai‘i Department of Health is issuing prioritization guidelines for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in order to implement the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations on COVID-19 booster doses:
     
    1. First and second doses should have priority over any booster doses. The best way to protect Hawai‘i families and communities is to ensure that unvaccinated Hawai‘i residents complete their primary vaccine series.
    2. DOH recommends vaccination providers give priority to individuals age 65 and older and individuals age 50-64 with underlying medical conditions. The CDC’s strongest recommendations were to provide boosters to these groups, as waning immunity in these populations puts them at highest risk for severe illness.
    3. As supply allows, providers should consider booster doses for additional populations recommended by the CDC. Those groups are:
      1. Individuals age 18-49 with underlying medical conditions, based on individual benefits and risks.
      2. Individuals age 18-64 and at high risk for occupational or institutional exposure, based on individual benefits and risks.
      3. Pfizer vaccine recipients unsure if they qualify for a booster should check with their healthcare provider.
     
    Current vaccination sites in Hawaii County can be found on the Hawaii County COVID-19 Vaccine Summary webpage. This site contains a calendar of vaccination sites.
     
    From our partners at Community First:
     

     
     
    Media:
    From the Office of Governor Ige: Capitol Connection, October 2021
     
    Star Advertiser – October 1:  Video: Gov. Ige extends coronavirus restrictions another 2 months, provides no metrics for reopening
     
    See additional COVID-19 information at the Kona Community Hospital website.
     
    KCH Call Center & COVID Email for replacement COVID-19 vaccination cards may be submitted to the KCH Call Center phone line or the COVID vaccine email address.
    • KCH Call Center 808-322-4451 (Note: this phone is for voicemails only).
    • KCH Email Address: KCHCovidVaccine@hhsc.org (Note: email is curretly the preferred form of contact).