Should You Still Get Vaccines?

We asked our state epidemiologist to help clarify the confusion.

1 hour ago

Diane Seo,

Illustrations: Lemono/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

With current national debates swirling around vaccines, we reached out to Sarah Kemble, state epidemiologist and chief of the disease outbreak control division for Hawai‘i’s Department of Health, to clarify our state’s recommendations for childhood vaccines, the flu shot, COVID-19 vaccine and other immunizations.

In September, shortly after we spoke to Kemble, the national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recomended that those 6 months and older consider the COVID-19 vaccine based on “individual-based decision-making.” This is a departure from ACIP’s past guidance, which supported the use of vaccines for everyone 6 months or older. ACIP’s vote came after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration limited approval of the Moderna COVID vaccine to those 65 and older, as well as those as young as 6 months who have at least one underlying medical condition.

Many people are confused about the changing vaccine recommendations coming from the federal level. Does the state of Hawai‘i still support vaccines?

SK: The state of Hawai‘i still believes that vaccines are one of the most important ways that people can protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities. Our recommendations for the fall for respiratory virus vaccines like flu, COVID and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) essentially haven’t changed very much from prior years.

We believe that everyone who wants to get a COVID vaccine should be able to get one because they have been shown to benefit all age groups to which they are available, 6 months old and up. With the flu and RSV vaccines, we know and have seen season after season that they do provide benefits to keep people from getting severely ill to keep them out of the hospital. We especially recommend the COVID vaccine for people with underlying medical conditions, but really anyone aged 6 months or older who feels they would like the protection of the vaccine should be able to get one.

Can you still go to CVS, for instance, to get the COVID shot?

SK: What we’re hearing is that adults certainly have been able to go to pharmacies and get the 2025-2026 formulation. You may need to check a box to say that you meet some underlying condition. We hope that these recommendations will help to support the access, the insurance coverage and all the other things that need to come along for people to have the vaccine when they want to.

Can Hawai‘i chart its own course and not follow national recommendations?

SK: That’s a really complicated question. There are federal laws and there are state laws, and we now see a divergence of what states are recommending. We get asked a lot if a physician can prescribe the shot if it doesn’t exactly match the ACIP recommendations. We have to remember that ACIP recommendations are just that—they’re recommendations. Insurance coverage may be tied to those recommendations, however, as a physician, I can prescribe vaccines if I think patients are going to benefit from them.

Is it helpful that Gov. Josh Green has been so outspoken about recommending vaccines?

SK: It’s so helpful right now to have a clear voice, especially from a physician governor. To be able to say publicly that vaccines are safe, effective and the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones—that’s such an important message. It’s also really important that we base our vaccine decisions not solely on politics but on science. The DOH is part of the West Coast Health Alliance … joining with other states to do careful scientific reviews and make evidence-based decisions.

What can the DOH do to relay its vaccine message to the public?

SK: What DOH is doing is being a trusted messenger, being the voice of consistent and evidence-based recommendations for the public. We’ve joined with our colleagues to examine the data, question what’s going to be best, and come to a consensus about good evidence-based information to relay.