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Yesterday Hawaii commemorated 62 years since statehood in 1959. Three years later, the young President John F. Kennedy addressed the nation at his inauguration. Most of us know it as the "Ask not what your country can do for you" speech. But few know
he also said this: "Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce."
President Kennedy's guidance to invoke the wonders of science and to eradicate disease has never been more fitting. We have entered into a new stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past few weeks, Maui County's daily case counts have jumped from single to triple digits.
With just 55 percent of our population fully vaccinated, the highly contagious delta variant is now seeking out the unvaccinated among us. Maui Memorial Medical Center, the county's only acute-care facility, is caring for more COVID patients now than at any other time during the pandemic.
At his news conference last Friday, Gov. David Ige described Hawaii's situation as a "crisis." Sadly, it is an unnecessary crisis. The situation could have been much less serious had more people been vaccinated.
Those avoiding vaccines often cite religious and political beliefs or health concerns for their hesitance. But the most common reason for refusing vaccines is believing deliberate misinformation in the social media vortex of pseudo-science, questionable data, fake news and conspiracy theories. Facebook posts and online videos don't meet the standards of evidence-based medical research. If you've been confused by this, please talk to your family physician and ask for his or her professional medical opinion on vaccines.
Some are wary of COVID-19 vaccines because they are currently being administered under emergency use authorization and not yet fully licensed by the Food and Drug Administration. Federal government agencies have proceeded as if vaccines are fully approved by recommending all eligible Americans to get vaccinated. The FDA recently announced it expects full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine sometime in early September, with other vaccines soon to follow. If you've been waiting for FDA approval, know that it's on the way.
Governor Ige recently mandated proof of vaccination (or weekly testing) for all state and county workers. Most Hawaii colleges and universities have done the same. Private employers like United and Hawaiian Airlines, and Merriman's Restaurants are also requiring vaccines for their employees. Expect more to join.
Since vaccine mandates were announced, some have claimed they are illegal, but the U.S. Department of Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have stated specifically that employer vaccine mandates may occur even under an emergency use authorization.
States have long had the legal authority to mandate vaccinations. The United States Supreme Court has upheld this twice, once in 1905 and again in 1922. When governments are also employers, they are in a similar legal position as businesses. Vaccine mandates by government agencies are lawful and often necessary to protect public health.
Some claim vaccination mandates are "communistic," but requiring vaccines is as American as apple pie. During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington mandated his troops get the smallpox vaccine, saying it was necessary to protect the health of his soldiers and to win the war.
At "anti-vax and anti-mask" demonstrations around the country, and even here in Wailuku, protesters defend their stance by claiming public health mandates diminish their personal liberty and freedom. Absent from their argument is any mention of their responsibility to others. Demanding rights without responsibility is not freedom. It is adolescence.
While it's true that everyone has the right to refuse any medical intervention, in this instance, their choice affects the health of others. To paraphrase President Kennedy, "Ask not what your community can do for you, ask what you can do for your community."
* "Our County," a column from Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino, discusses county issues and activities of county government. The column alternates with "Council's 3 Minutes" every other weekend.