More and more vaccination locations around the Big Island are inoculating people without appointments.
The state Department of Health hosted two walk-in clinics Tuesday, offering the single-dose Johnson &Johnson vaccine in North Kona and Pahoa.
“We may have the opportunity to come out to this location more,” said Jason Dela Cruz with the DOH. “Based on today’s event, we’ll be proposing more clinics in Pahoa to the county. It was a really good pace for a clinic of this size.”
No appointments are needed for vaccines from 4-6 p.m. weekdays at Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea.
“The walk-in option has been very popular, which is why we expanded it,” said hospital spokeswoman Lynn Scull.
“Offering the walk-in option helps expand the vaccine availability to people who are less inclined to make appointments — maybe because they’re really busy, have young kids or just generally don’t like having to make appointments for things,” she said. “We’re trying to accommodate both kinds of people (those who like making appointments and those who don’t) by making the vaccine available by appointment as well as without an appointment.”
Hilo Medical Center will open its vaccine clinic at the Arc of Hilo to walk-ins from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays beginning June 1, said HMC spokeswoman Elena Cabatu.
HMC also plans to open a walk-in vaccination station in the hospital lobby on June 1.
The walk-in clinics will use the single-dose Johnson &Johnson vaccine for adults. The Pfizer vaccine, which requires two doses several weeks apart, will be administered to children 12-17.
Cabatu said plans also are underway to offer vaccinations to emergency room patients, similar to what is done for the flu shot.
KTA Super Stores, which began offering vaccines in its four Big Island pharmacies in February, is still taking appointments, but also accommodating some walk-ins.
“If someone does walk in, we try our best to accommodate them either by providing them with their COVID vaccination right away, or scheduling them for an appointment,” said Director of Pharmacy Kerri Okamura in an email.
KTA will accept walk-ins at its community clinics, she said.
“I foresee eventually transitioning to walk-ins as our efforts continue,” Okamura said. “Having to make an appointment is a barrier for some, and we need to continue to break down barriers to getting the vaccine.”
Additionally, walk-in appointments are available at every Longs Drugs offering the COVID-19 vaccination, said CVS spokeswoman Monica Prinzing.
However, same-day scheduling also is available at CVS.com.
“Walk-in and same-day appointments help make getting the vaccination even more convenient for our customers and increase access to care,” Prinzing said in an email.
Photographer Kelsey Walling contributed to this story.
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
