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Protection from Covid-19 Through the Holidays

December 12, 2022

From the Office for Social Ministry

As families contemplate the coming holidays and reuniting with loved ones with BIG celebration gatherings, it is important that you protect yourself and others from serious illness. 

The Centers on Disease Control (CDC) continue to study the effectiveness of boosting your immunity and data indicates the bivalent booster provides significant additional protection against COVID 19 infection. This booster is specifically designed to protect against the original COVID-19 and Omicron subvariants. It is recommended for Hawaii residents ages 5 and older who completed their primary vaccine series at least two months ago OR received their first or second booster at least two months ago.

It’s no surprise that large numbers of school aged children are returning home sick after sharing illness causing germs and infections to include RSV, the flu and COVID-19. This is due in part to households relaxing common protection practices, to include wearing masks. Over the past two holiday seasons, gatherings contributed to higher COVID-19 cases. As a reminder, our State Department of Health recommends that we remain vigilant so to stay healthy through the holidays and into the new year! Everyone should be sure to:

• Get vaccinated and/or boosted.
• Stay home if you are sick, even if you just have a sore throat or runny nose.
• Wear masks indoors when you are with people from outside your household.
• Take a COVID-19 test before large gatherings of visiting people at high risk of severe illness.
• Gather outdoors or improve ventilation by opening windows and using fans indoors.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Take extra precautions to protect kupuna.

You can receive your vaccination and/or booster at pharmacies on every island. For more information regarding COVID-19, the Department of Health Call Center can be reached on Oahu at (808) 586-8332 and toll free at (833) 711-0645, Monday thru Friday from 7:45 AM till 4:30 PM.   

We wish you and your loved ones a beautiful Christmas as we prepare to welcome the birth of the Christ child. Have a Happy and Healthy new Year in 2023!