Maui Health will begin Pfizer booster injections for eligible seniors starting Monday, September 27

Maui Health will begin providing booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine to eligible people starting Monday, September 27. This is in addition to the current vaccine administration of providing the first, second and third doses to eligible residents.

On Friday, the booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was approved by the CDC for certain populations. The Hawai’i Healthcare Association and the Hawai’i State Department of Health have further clarified the CDC’s prioritization of eligible populations.

Maui Health will follow the prioritization guidelines given by the CDC, HAH and HDOH, which state that people who should are given priority to receive the booster dose include those most at risk for serious COVID-19 disease and / or hospitalization, who have already received the two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, the last dose having been received there at least six months ago, AND the following Criteria:

• You are 65 years of age or older, or
• Residents in retirement homes or
• Residents in assisted living facilities, or
• Foster homes and residents of community care homes, or
• Individuals aged 50 to 64 with underlying health problems
  • including cancer, diabetes, asthma, HIV infection, heart disease and obesity

To meet anticipated demand, the Maui Health COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic, located in the main lobby of Maui Memorial Medical Center, will be open five days a week, starting Monday, September 27 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. afternoon

Due to anticipated high demand, appointments will be required. Qualified community members can schedule an appointment in VAMS (https://vams.cdc.gov) for their booster dose from now on.

The CDC also said that people working in high-risk professional and institutional settings, which include healthcare workers, may receive the Pfizer booster dose. Individuals who may get the Pfizer booster dose, but are not currently eligible to receive the booster at Maui Health, include:

• Those who have already received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, with the last dose received at least six months ago, AND the following criteria:
  • Are between the ages of 18 and 49 with underlying health conditions, depending on individual benefits and risks, or
  • Are between the ages of 18 and 64 and are at increased risk of exposure and transmission to COVID-19 due to the professional or institutional setting.
    • Includes health care, correctional facility staff and inmates, and people living in homeless shelters

“We understand that many in the community are anxious to receive the booster dose, and we appreciate the willingness and desire to further protect you, your family, friends and your community. We hope to expand the availability of boosters soon. For now, Maui Health will follow the prioritization guidelines provided by the CDC, HAH and HDOH and will continue to focus on protecting the most vulnerable in our community, ”said a spokesperson for Maui Health.

For the most recent information, visit www.mauihealth.org/covidvaccine.