Demand for vaccines in Maui continues to outstrip supply, forcing a temporary suspension to ensure new appointments for the first doses at Maui hospital.
Maui Health, which runs the vaccination clinic at the Maui Memorial Medical Center, also postponed appointments for individuals seeking a first dose and had already made an appointment between January 17 and February 7, 2021.
“Unfortunately, last night we were informed by the state that we will not receive the shipment expected for this weekend and next week. Because of this, we made the difficult decision to postpone all appointments to the first dose scheduled between Sunday, January 17th, until Sunday, February 7th. “
Tracy Dallarda, Director of Communications at Maui Health / Maui Memorial Medical Center
“This is to make sure we have enough vaccine to provide the second dose to those who will need it in the coming weeks,” said Tracy Dallarda, Director of Communications at Maui Health / Maui Memorial Medical Center.
Affected individuals affected by this postponement of the first dose were notified via the email they used to sign up for the consultation. They have since been placed on a priority list to receive the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine once Maui Health is able to secure and maintain sufficient state vaccine supplies.
“As soon as we receive confirmation that enough vaccines are on their way to Maui Health, we will send these individuals a link to a private booking portal (NOT the CDC’s VAMS website) to reschedule an appointment,” said Dallarda.
Maui Health has also established new service hours for those who are already scheduled to receive their second dose. These people should have received an email with more specific instructions.
The changes include:
- The Maui health clinic at the Maui Memorial Medical Center will be closed on Sunday, January 17 and Monday, January 25
- As of Monday, January 18, the Maui vaccine health clinic will operate ONLY for Pfizer’s already scheduled SECOND DOSE vaccinations.
- The hours of the new clinics are from 7:30 am to 8:00 pm, ONLY from Monday to Friday.
Besides that, Maui Health is not currently accepting new scheduling requests.
If a Maui resident has already submitted an appointment request form and is still having problems, they should send an email [email protected] with
your concerns.
“Although we’re not scheduling new appointments, we can help set up your account for when new appointments are available,” said Dallarda. “We know that this is frustrating. Know that we are tirelessly defending Maui to ensure that we receive our fair share of vaccines so that any member of the Maui community who wants to be vaccinated can be. “
The hospital’s vaccination clinic at Maui Memorial Medical Center includes a special appointment system that allows the kupuna to schedule an appointment when volunteers can assist with the online registration process. There is also a unique phone number and email address to answer questions and help them navigate the scheduling process.
The Maui Health Community Vaccination Clinic started on Friday, January 8 and has since vaccinated more than 3,000 community members and more than 1,000 employees and suppliers.
The hospital has received 1,500 requests per day from individuals who wish to be vaccinated; for a total of 11,000 people (as of Thursday, January 14) who had entered the system and were waiting for assistance.
The hospital is the only site in Maui that has extended vaccination to those in priority group 1B under the CDC prioritization schedule.
The other clinic in Maui is a drive-in location, operated by the state Department of Health – Maui District Health Office at the University of Hawaii. The location of the Distribution Point or POD in the school is considered to be a “closed POD” that is not open to the general public or to many in the larger 1B group. He is still working to meet vaccination requests in the highest priority 1A group, as well as in the first respondents.
The UHMC website struggled last week when an unexpected crowd showed up on Monday and Wednesday, including those outside the site’s priority group. Some were rejected and asked to await further instructions.
Those being vaccinated should note that the hospital’s vaccination clinic is currently offering only the Pfizer vaccine; while the UHMC pop-up clinic is administering the Modern vaccine.
“Your first dose, if it is with Moderna, the second dose must be from the same manufacturer, Moderna. If you come here (to the hospital), and your first dose is Pfizer, your second dose must also be Pfizer, ”said Chrissy Miller and manager of employee health nursing at Maui Health.
Deputy Governor Josh Green has estimated demand for the vaccine at “about 3 to 1, or perhaps even 5 to 1” today. “And it will take us in a better direction quickly, as we get our vaccine boost, which we were promised in the third week of January, where we are going now.”
“I think your tipping point will be close, if I had to guess, March 1, when it suddenly seems to have reached the balance where the right number of people are asking based on the right number of vaccines. It’s not really that far, ”said Lt. Governor Green during a visit to Maui on Thursday.
Updates will be provided as they become available.