Lt. Governor Receives COVID-19 Vaccine

Lieutenant Governor Josh Green received his first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the Queen’s Medical Center this morning.

As an emergency room physician on Hawai‘i Island, Green is categorized as a healthcare worker in Phase 1a of the COVID-19 distribution plan in Hawai‘i. Green’s healthcare colleagues on Hawai‘i Island will receive vaccines this week as well.
 
“As a healthcare worker, it was my turn to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and I felt it was important to lead by example. I want to show the people of Hawai‘i that both the currently available vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, are effective and safe and that I was willing to take it myself,” said. Lt. Gov. Green. “I encourage every person to get the vaccine when it’s their turn. We can’t let our guard down now, but it is a tremendous relief to have a COVID-19 vaccine. It’s a symbol of hope for many people.”
 
Green was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Sept. 11, 2020 and recovered after experiencing mild-to-moderate symptoms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance generally states individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 should receive the vaccine about 90 days following recovery. Lt. Gov. Green will receive his second Pfizer dose in mid-January, 21 days following his first shot.

Thirty staff members at Queen’s North Hawai’i Community Hospital received their Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations today, with the remaining staff expected to receive the vaccine in the next two weeks.

Front-line providers, including physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, housekeepers, and other care providers, received the first of the two-dose Pfizer vaccine. The hospital received 490 doses of the vaccine yesterday and it is now stored in an ultra-low temperature freezer. Additional doses are expected to arrive next week.

“Staff members were excited to receive their vaccinations and to be part of such important phase of this pandemic – it’s really the start to the end of the suffering that so many have gone through this past year. I could not think of any better holiday gift for our healthcare providers and our community than the vaccine!” said QNHCH President Cindy Kamikawa.