How long will it take for Hawaii to reach a 70% vaccination rate?
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Only 52 percent of Hawaiis population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. But health experts are optimistic that the state can get to a 70 percent rate -- and a new normal -- by the end of summer. So far, more than one and-a-half million doses have been given in Hawaii. Experts say it would take another 400,000 doses to get to 70 percent. We believe its doable, said Hilton Raethel, president and CEO of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii. If you got to 50,000 (doses) a week, its eight weeks. If you get up to 70,000 a week, its six weeks.  That would take us into the end of July and early August, right as the first semester begins in public schools. The problem is that according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hawaiis vaccine distribution rate is half of what it was just a month ago. Those who arent vaccinated are unmotivated or unwilling. But epidemiologist DeWolfe Miller said it should be fairly obvious by now that the vaccines are safe. It opens you up to so many possibilities, like getting your life back, and safely. And so why wouldnt you want to participate in that? he said. Hawaiis vaccine rollout has already resulted in lower hospitalization and infection rates, along with steadily increasing flights to Hawaii. State economists predict 6.6 million visitor arrivals this year. The good news is that weve been able to open up the economy even at the 50 percent rate, and we havent had these spikes or these jump-ups, Raethel said. But for some, 70 percent is not a magic number, especially as the virus changes over time. We have a lot of variants that are emerging, and some of them are already here. And we need to beat them to the punch, said Miller. I think its doable, said Kakaako resident Marisa Perez. I mean most of the people that Ive spoken with are willing to get vaccinated if they havent already been vaccinated.  Her husband, Derek Perez, said that he would take advantage of the states new incentive program for those who have been vaccinated. But he believes theres another reason to get the COVID shots. Just being able to travel without the restrictions, being able to go interisland without having to do the health screenings and being able to visit people on the mainland if you have people to visit, I think, thats the real incentive, he said. Copyright 2021 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.