Hilo, Pepeekeo, Honokaa and Hawi have highest rates of vaccination

A COVID vaccine is administered at the Kona Community Hospital at Kekuaokalani Gym. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)
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Areas of East Hawaii, Hamakua and North Kohala continue to lead the island in the percentage of the population vaccinated for COVID-19.

Hilo, Pepeekeo, Honokaa and Hawi reported Monday vaccination rates of 60.1% to 70% of the population age 12 and older, according to the state Department of Health.

Most of West Hawaii, from Kailua-Kona northward to Waikoloa, Waimea and Kapaau, is reporting 45.1% to 60% of the population vaccinated. Hakalau, Honomu, Laupahoehoe, Ninole, Ookala, Papaaloa, and Papaikou and Keaau are also reporting similar inoculation rates.

Reporting 35.1% to 45% of the population vaccinated are Paauilo, Volcano and Kurtistown. Areas reporting less than 35% of the population inoculated are Pahoa, Mountain View, Naahelu, Ocean View, Captain Cook and Honaunau.

No area on the Big Island has reached 70.1% or more of the population fully vaccinated. The only areas in the state reporting more than 70.1% of the population inoculated are Kapaa on Maui, Lanai City on Lanai, Waimea on Kauai, and the Hauula area and small swaths of Honolulu on Oahu.

Nearly 110,000 Big Island residents were fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as of Monday, according to data released by the state Department of Health.

To date, including state and federal resources, 1,729,885 shots have been administered across Hawaii, health officials said. That equates to about 65.7% of the state’s population having received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 59.3%, or more than 843,478 people, having completed the inoculation process.

On the Big Island, more than 228,253 doses have been given to residents. Some 109,931 people — 55% of the island’s population — are fully vaccinated while another 127,497 have received their first shot.

The state is currently in Phase 2 of its vaccination plan, with all individuals 12 years of age and older eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Only Pfizer has been approved for persons under age 18. Johnson &Johnson and Moderna are only available to adults over age 18.