Vaccine passports
Many Hawaii residents have been taking the vaccine. As of recently, 54% of the state has received the first dose, and 35% has been fully vaccinated.
I am in support of those who get vaccinated, and I also understand why others would not want the vaccine. It is their own choice. But when we bring vaccine passports into it, it makes things difficult.
Vaccine passports exempt people from testing and quarantine rules. Now, how do we know who has COVID or not if they don’t take a test? There is no concrete evidence that the vaccine stops transmission. Similar to asymptomatic people, it just adds more risk and inability to keep track of those who have COVID. Thirty-eight residents have tested positive after being fully vaccinated — higher than the national rate.
Now, let’s say we have those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated traveling in a plane together. A person who is vaccinated has less risk of contracting the virus, but they can still be a carrier, unaware if they aren’t tested, and able to transmit it to those who are unvaccinated. Those unvaccinated will suffer way worse effects than those who have the vaccine.
Now, what happens when we eventually allow mainland citizens to travel here with their vaccination passports? Those traveling with the passport are not required to quarantine either. Hawaii would see an increase in cases.
A lot of people will want to get a vaccine passport. It is more convenient and cheaper, especially for those traveling back and forth between islands for work, family, etc.
To initiate the passport would establish a greater risk for Hawaii residents. It is still too early in the process to establish vaccine passports with the limited information we know about COVID-19 and the vaccines.
Gabrielle Malicdem
Hilo
Life disrupted
As of March 2020, Hawaii faced a lockdown because of COVID-19, which led to a “new normal” and a new beginning. The lockdown caused restrictions, unemployment, school closures, etc.
As schools moved completely online for nearly 1.5 years, it held a very different atmosphere because you do not see anyone that often and the learning experience is very stressful.
Since online school has been the new normal, as well as wearing face masks and social distancing, socializing and working together on projects and assignments have interrupted my studies tremendously because everything is distributed through Zoom. This can be very difficult for some, as it is hard to fully acknowledge what I am learning through a computer screen.
As a graduating high school senior who is going to college, lots of obstacles are present ahead of us. It will affect our freshman year of college, which is when you get to meet new friends, professors and a whole new campus.
As a student who is pursuing a major in the health field, not being able to experience our first year of college on campus will be very stressful, as you won’t get that hands-on experience. With not being able to meet new students and find friends in the same major, Zoom and breakout rooms seem to be the only option, which tends to be nerve-racking since it is online and you have not met these people in real life.
In my opinion, if we took this virus in a more serious matter and followed protocols, this pandemic would not have gotten worse. Getting vaccinated is a proper way to do your part to keep yourself and others safe during this time, which can lead to businesses and schools reopening.
Kathleen Yumul
Hilo
