You might soon need a booster to be considered ‘fully vaccinated’ under Safe Travels
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Changes appear to be coming to the definition of “fully vaccinated” in the eyes of the state’s Safe Travels program.
Gov. David Ige said the state is considering requiring a booster shot to be considered vaccinated.
Under current rules, arriving travelers from out of state only need two doses of the vaccine or a negative test to avoid isolating after their arrival.
An increasing number of government agencies are requiring a booster to be considered fully vaccinated — even though it hasn’t been officially required by the CDC.
The governor says any official change to Safe Travels is weeks away so people have ample notice and can adjust accordingly.
“We know that the community needs time to react to that, so we would have to provide at least two weeks for those who may not be up to date to go to have the opportunity to go and get vaccinated if they need to,” Ige told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Monday.
Ige said he is also talking with county mayors about requiring boosters for access to restaurants and events, but says the decision rests with them.
He adds that he would be willing to step in and issue a statewide order to require that in the event Hawaii’s hospitals and medical care system becomes overrun.
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