Less than 3% of the COVID-19 patients admitted to Kona Community Hospital since April 1 have been vaccinated for the novel coronavirus that’s killed more than 600 in the state, including 59 on the Big Island.
Just three of the 106 patients admitted at the Kealakekua hospital to date were vaccinated for COVID-19, said Kona Community Hospital regional director of marketing and strategic planning Judy Donovan. Patients have generally been younger than age 50, and of both genders. A few pediatric patients, those age 17 and younger, have been admitted for care.
On Wednesday, more than a fifth of the 74 patients receiving care at the 94-bed facility were battling COVID-19, she said. None of those 17 COVID-positive patients had been vaccinated, according to Donovan. Two of the 17 patients are considered “long haulers” who have been released by the Department of Health as not infectious but require ongoing care.
According to a recent study by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, unvaccinated people are about 29 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated. The study also found that unvaccinated people were nearly five times more likely to be infected with COVID than vaccinated people.
As of Wednesday, more than 205 million Americans, or 61.9% of the total U.S. population, have had at least one COVID shot, according to data compiled by the CDC. More than 174.6 million Americans, or 52.6% of the total U.S. population, are fully vaccinated, according to the agency.
In Hawaii, 71.6% of the state’s eligible population 12 years of age and older having received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 63.4% having completed the inoculation process. On the Big Island, 60% of the island’s entire population and 70% of the eligible population over age 12 — are fully vaccinated.
Three of the COVID-positive patients were confined to the Kona hospital’s nine-bed intensive care unit (ICU) while the other 14 were receiving care in the med/surg, acute care and behavioral health units Wednesday. Three of the hospital’s 10 ventilators were in use by COVID-19 patients. The hospital also has seven ventilator-type units and is expecting an additional five ventilators from the state.
“We continue to admit record numbers of COVID positive patients to KCH, including in the Intensive Care Unit and the hospital’s COVID unit,” Donovan said Wednesday. “Both of our acute nursing units and the ICU are managing heavy caseloads due to the complexities of treating COVID-19. Managing the current surge of COVID inpatients requires daily assessment of availability in all clinical units, staffing and resources.”
Daily consumption of medical grade oxygen, which is 99% pure, has increased from one oxygen delivery per month to four, Donovan said.
“Consequently, we have implemented a rigorous Oxygen Conservation Plan which monitors and guides oxygen use in every area of the hospital, including patient discharge planning. Effective yesterday (Tuesday), we have also canceled all elective surgeries until further notice. Surgical Services will continue to perform urgent and emergent surgeries,” she said.
While Hilo Medical Center has had to open an overflow unit as the number of hospitalizations have steadily worked its way up over three weeks, Kona Community Hospital appears to be faring better thus far.
“We have not experienced overflow yet,” said Donovan. “We have contingency plans to flex some room up on both Med/Surg units, in ICU and potentially in PACU (surgery recovery area). We can also use the 2-room mash tent situated adjacent to the Emergency Department.”
Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea said its inpatient numbers have varied.
“We were very full last weekend and last week but this week, not so bad,” said Marketing and Communications Manager Lynn Scully of the 35-bed facility. “Our ICU has been mostly full for the past 4 weeks or so.”
Scully said the private hospital, which is not affiliated with the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, does not release exact COVID patient counts because of its size and the small community it serves. However, she noted a “vast majority” of the cases are among unvaccinated individuals.
The hospital oxygen supply is also currently “fine.”
“Like the rest of the hospitals in the state, surgeries are being reviewed and elective surgeries are being delayed when possible to assure adequate oxygen supplies,” she said.
