• Kona Community Hospital: Community Update - October 26,2021

    October 26, 2021
    Kona Community Hospital: Community Update – October 26, 2021
     
    Kona Community Hospital COVID-19 update for October 26, 2021 (as of 2:00pm) below:
    ·         Hospital-wide census: 75
    ·         5 total COVID-19 patients
    o   1 ICU (of 6 total ICU patients)
    o   4 Med Surg COVID Unit 
    o   0 ventilator(s) in use for COVID patient(s)
    o   0 vaccinated COVID patients in-house
    o   2 COVID long-haul patients
    ·         As of October 25, 2021 a cumulative total of 20 COVID-related deaths have occurred in the hospital (no change from last report).
     
    View Hawaii’s latest reported statistics:  
    ·         Total confirmed cases in State as of Oct. 24:  83,522
    ·         Total confirmed cases in County as of Oct. 24:  10,933
    ·         Total reported cases in County last 14 days: 419
     
    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.
     
    FROM CDC: Who Is Eligible for a COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot?
     
    Vaccine Boosters: The Hawaii DOH has authorized Pfizer booster doses based on the following prioritization guidelines for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster:
     
    1. First and second doses should have priority over any booster doses.
    2. Booster priority to individuals age 65 and older and individuals age 50-64 with underlying medical conditions.
    3. As supply allows, booster doses for additional populations include:
      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 the Dept. of Health and Human Services:
    FYI - https://www.phe.gov/emergency/news/healthactions/phe/Pages/COVDI-15Oct21.aspx
     
    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra extended the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) for an additional 90 days. The new expiration date for the COVID-19 PHE is now set for mid-January 2022. Any decision to allow the PHE to lapse would come with 60 days of notice.
     
    Pandemic Trivia: The 1918 pandemic lasted three years. January 2022 marks the end of the first two years of the current pandemic…

    From our partners at Community First:
     

    Media:
    Star Advertiser – October 26: FDA advisers back Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for young kids
    West Hawaii Today – October 21: “We’re going to be ready” Plans to vaccinate 28M children ages 5 – 11 detailed
    West Hawaii Today – October 21:  Green favors fewer limits
    Star Advertiser – October 19:  Gov. David Ige invites visitors to resume non-essential travel to Hawaii on Nov. 1
    West Hawaii Today – October 18:  Token of appreciation Rotarians treat hospital staff as pandemic drags on
    West Hawaii Today – October 15:  Moderna booster backed: FDA panel backs third COVID shot for some

    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 Pharmacists celebrate National Pharmacy Week 2021