Maui nonprofit receives funds to help with immunization efforts | News, Sports, Jobs

Registered nurse Lara Geyrozaga administers a first dose of Pfizer to a student at a social housing event in Oahu. VISION HAWAII PROJECT photo

Maui News

Hui No Ke Ola Pono has received $ 50,000 to help remove barriers to immunization among communities most affected by COVID-19, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii announced Monday.

The Native Hawaiian health care nonprofit in Maui was one of five organizations in Hawaii to receive grants totaling $ 400,000 to facilitate access to immunizations.

“Our communities disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 disease are also the communities where vaccination rates are lagging”, Dr. John Yang, president and medical director of Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, said in a press release. “By supporting trusted community organizations in their work, we can continue efforts to disseminate educational materials and remove barriers to access to vaccines, thereby improving immunization rates and bringing Hawaii closer to the end of this pandemic.”

Other organizations receiving funds included Project Vision Hawaii, $ 150,000; Hawaii Marshallese Community Organization, $ 75,000; Pacific Gateway Center, $ 75,000; and the town church, $ 60,000.

The money will help organizations deliver culturally relevant vaccine content aimed at addressing hesitation and correcting misinformation within their target populations, according to the press release. It will also help ensure the success of the pop-up vaccination clinics by providing on-site support staff. In the long term, the funding will also support overall health equity, for example by encouraging visits from healthy children. Vaccinations and routine checkups have declined due to the pandemic, Kaiser said.