New Survey Reveals That Hawaii Long-Term Care Providers Outpace Mainland Counterparts in COVID Vaccinations

State of Reform reports that skilled nursing and other long-term care communities in Hawaii are inoculating an average 78 percent of staff against COVID-19 compared to the 38 percent national U.S. average, according to a study by the Healthcare Association of Hawaii. This highlights growing acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines, with three Hawaiian communities getting 100 percent of personnel vaccinated, while 13 had staff vaccination rates of 90 percent of higher. Inoculation rates climbed when vaccines reached the second of the three clinics planned as part of the federal pharmacy partnership program to immunize long-term care residents and staff. Hawaiian long-term care residents' average vaccination was 90 percent versus the 78 percent national average for nursing communities. "It's a testament to long-term care providers' hard work in educating staff and working with our federal partners and the Hawaii Department of Health to vaccinate both staff and residents," said the Healthcare Association of Hawaii CEO Hilton Raethel.