The state Department of Health will hold public hearings next month in Maui County to get community input on proposed amendments to state requirements for health examinations and immunizations for school attendance in Hawaii.

Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson said officials decided to hold statewide meetings because of the amount of public interest in the amendments. The proposed changes update and clarify the immunization and examination requirements for school, post-secondary school and child care attendance in Hawaii. The rules were last revised in 2001.

“The proposed rules conform with current national recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for vaccinations,” he said.

The first Maui County hearing is set for 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 14 at the third floor video conference center in the Wailuku state office building at 54 S. High St. A simultaneous video conference will be on Molokai at the Department of Health, 65 Makaena Place, Room 107, in Kaunakakai.

A hearing on Lanai is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Lana’i Public and School Library at 555 Fraser Ave. in Lanai City.

Other hearings will be held later on the Big Island and Kauai. A public hearing was held Nov. 1 on Oahu .

The department is proposing amendments to Title 11, Chapter 157, “Examination and Immunization.”

Testimony on the rule changes may be submitted orally or in writing during the public hearings. Written testimony may be submitted to the Health Department via email at immunization@doh.hawaii.gov by 4 p.m. Dec. 26. 

To view the proposed rules, visit health.hawaii.gov/opppd/proposed-changes-to-department-of-health-administrative-rules-title-11/.