Vaccinations for keiki roll out in Maui County

Kaiser launched pediatric shots on Friday; Maui Health still awaiting doses

Vaccinations for Maui County's youngest residents began rolling out last week, with clinics, doctors and pharmacies offering the Pfizer shot for those ages 5 to 11.

Kaiser Maui Lani Clinic pediatrician Dr. Joy Dalmon said on Monday that so far she's seen more parents excited rather than guarded about having the opportunity to vaccinate their children against COVID-19.

"In the first day after the authorization was given, we received many calls and emails from parents wanting to bring their children in for vaccination," she said. "And there were many smiling happy faces at the shot clinic this weekend."

The Maui Lani clinic began the pediatric shots on Friday, said Laura Lott, senior director of communications and public relations for Kaiser Permanente Hawaii.

"Parents are looking forward to feeling safer at home, their children missing fewer school days, and to traveling again," said Dalmon, who has two young sons who were vaccinated with their first shot over the weekend.

She said they both "did great, a little soreness of the arm, but it didn't keep them from playing and wrestling as usual."

On Nov. 2, the state Department of Health authorized certified vaccination providers to administer Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to the youngest age group. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine for those ages 5-11 at the end of October.

State Department of Health spokesman Brooks Baehr on Monday did not have figures for the number of children that have already been vaccinated in the 5-11 age group in Hawaii, but said he hopes to have some data soon.

Dalmon said the most frequently asked question from parents is if the vaccine is safe.

"Yes, the vaccine is safe and effective in this age group, similar to vaccines for older children and adults. There were no dangerous or concerning side effects seen in the studies for younger children, or with the vaccines given across the country since last week," Dalmon said.

A second most asked question is if the vaccine is "really necessary." Dalmon says it is for the safety of the child and family.

"Across the country, there have been more than 8,300 young children hospitalized for Covid illness, and sadly almost 100 young children aged 5 to 11 years have died of Covid (making it in the top 10 causes of death for young children)," she said in an email.

"There can be long-term complications of Covid in young children as well, and they can pass the illness onto older family members who may be at risk."

As for the side effects, Dalmon said that after the first dose, most children will experience only soreness of the arm where the shot was given. After the second dose, some children may feel tired, have a headache or muscle aches for one to two days.

A smaller amount may have swollen lymph nodes, similar to what is seen in adults, she said.

All of the side effects resolve without treatment, but Ibuprofen or Tylenol can be given as needed for pain.

In a news release Monday, the state Department of Education said that more than 100 public schools are registered to host vaccination clinics for 5- to 11-year-olds in the coming weeks.

Kalihi Uka Elementary on Oahu hosted the first DOE school-based vaccination clinics for the age group on Monday.

There were approximately 83,000 students enrolled in public schools in the 5-11 age range at the start of the 2021-22 school year.

In partnership with the DOH and health service providers, the DOE has hosted more than 150 school-based clinics statewide since May when vaccines were approved for adolescents, the news release said.

Many of the school clinics may be "closed" sites that only accommodate their enrolled students. The DOE said this is to ensure safety when clinics are run during school hours.

Schools will let their families know about the opportunities directly. The DOE said that although vaccination is encouraged, it is not mandatory to attend school.

Molokai General Hospital also began its vaccinations for keiki on Friday. So far about a dozen have been vaccinated, a spokesperson said on Monday.

Residents can call (808) 553-3121 to make an appointment.

Kaiser Permanente's Maui Lani Medical Office has a community vaccination event for the 5-to-11 age group from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday. The clinic is open to the public. It will be closed between noon and 1 p.m. To make an appointment, visit kp.org/evisits. If an appointment cannot be booked online, call (808) 243-6000 on Maui. The appointment line is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Maui Lani Medical Office also has its regular shot clinics Tuesday through Saturday, which are also open to non-members. Vaccination times are 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Saturday hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Patients can also go online or call for an appointment.

The state Department of Health's Maui District Health Office is currently not handling the 5-to-11 age group, a spokeswoman said Monday.

Maui Health, which operates Maui Memorial Medical Center, said in a statement Monday that "Maui Health continues to vaccinate all eligible residents 12 years of age and older, and is currently awaiting the arrival of enough pediatric doses to also begin providing the vaccine to our 5- to 11-year-old residents."

DOH said the Pfizer vaccine dose for children 5-11 is 10 micrograms, one-third of the dose used for adults.

At Maui Medical Group, Administrator Cliff Alakai said the organization has focused on delivering the Moderna vaccine for adults, as it is concerned about proper storage of the Pfizer vaccine, which must be kept at a lower temperature than Moderna's vaccine.

Alakai said they had thought the Moderna vaccine would have been cleared for the 12-to-17 age group but it has not been yet.

He said Maui Medical's pediatricians are meeting to decide about adding the Pfizer vaccine to its offerings.

Mauliola Pharmacy in Wailuku is also offering Pfizer pediatric doses to the public and holding public clinics at several schools.

Visit Mauliolapharmacy .com for a list of clinics and appointment links.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.