A healthcare professional in Hawaii who was one of the first to receive the two-dose COVID-19 vaccine in January contracted the virus after traveling to the continent, local researchers of the disease found.
The Oahu resident and a fellow traveler tested positive after traveling to “several cities on the American continent” in February, but never developed symptoms, according to the Department of Health’s Disease Outbreak Control Division. No family, friend or coworker has been infected.
A local case in which a vaccinated health worker hired COVID-19 demonstrated how people can still contract the virus, but vaccines work to prevent serious illness and death.
Courtesy: The Queen’s Health Systems
It is one of three “revolutionary” cases identified by the health department in which people who were vaccinated contracted the virus. The health department said the cases are not surprising, considering that 165,000 people in Hawaii have been fully vaccinated and the vaccines have proven to be about 95% effective, meaning that some people will still receive it. None of the three people became seriously ill or passed it on to others.
“What is really important is that vaccination prevents serious illness, hospitalization and death. This is what we really need vaccines to do for us, ”said Dr. Libby Char, director of the health department, in a press release. “Fortunately, your symptoms were very mild, which is exactly the protection that the vaccine offers, but you can become infected with COVID.”
The news was announced as part of the division’s weekly cluster report. Traveling outside of Hawaii has been a common trait among those who contract the virus, especially variant cases.
Of a total of nine infections confirmed in Hawaii as caused by a strain first identified in the UK, three traveled to Las Vegas, according to the report.
Health officials are advising people to avoid leisure travel.
The state announced this week that more doses of the vaccine are on the way, and eligibility will be expanded to new groups starting on Monday, including people with certain high-risk medical conditions and those 65 and older as part of the launch. for phase 1c of the vaccine launch.
Until now, vaccines have been limited to health professionals, residents of long-term care facilities and kupuna aged 70 and over, along with essential workers.
People between the ages of 16 and 64 reach phase 1c eligibility if they are dependent on dialysis or oxygen for respiratory or cardiovascular diseases or if they are undergoing chemotherapy or immunosuppressive medication therapy at an infusion center because of cancer or autoimmune disease, according to the Hawaii Health Association. Otherwise, the state plans to continue to open eligibility, reducing the age requirement in increments of five years.
Hawaii recorded an average of 54 daily cases of COVID-19 this week. Most infections occurred on Oahu, but Maui and Hawaii counties are seeing the highest percentage of positive results, although the numbers are still low.
Weekly case rates show that the prevalence of COVID-19 disease remains relatively sparse on the islands.
health Department
Maui continues to deal with several infection groups, the largest at the Community Correctional Center in Maui, where a total of 85 people have tested positive for COVID-19 to date.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is easing COVID-19 restrictions on Oahu, and on Thursday, Honolulu bars were able to reopen for groups of up to 10 and large funerals and conventions were allowed. Next month, Blangiardi said that outdoor sporting events could be resumed.
The change marks a break with the original tier system based on average test cases and rates. The tier system was developed by the administration of former Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
