Maui County to implement COVID-19 booster requirement

News Release from Maui County, January 25, 2022

As Maui County hospitals near capacity, Mayor Michael Victorino reminds both visitors and residents that the County’s revised Public Health Emergency Rules will go into effect on Monday, Jan. 24. The revised rules require proof of a booster shot to confirm patrons are “up to date” with their COVID-19 vaccinations if they want to dine indoors at a restaurant or bar, or exercise inside of a gym.

“After speaking with leadership from Maui, Molokai, and Lanai hospitals, it’s evident that our healthcare facilities are at a tipping point,” Mayor Victorino said. “If omicron continues to spread at the current rate, our hospitals will be forced to implement emergency procedures. We can’t send patients to Oahu or other islands, so booster shots, masks and physical distancing are more important than ever in high-risk venues like bars, restaurants and gyms.” 

New, large studies from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that boosters provide the best protection from severe disease and hospitalization caused by the omicron variant. The studies surveyed millions of cases and hundreds of thousands of visits to hospitals and emergency rooms. 

For more information on these studies, see: cdc.gov

And jamanetwork.com

Maui County revised rules are posted at www.mauicounty.gov

Vaccination and booster clinics are available throughout Maui County by appointment. Walk-ins are accepted at some locations.  For a list of vaccination locations across the County, see: vaccination-locations.