Forum tonight on vaccine booster shots

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Questions about COVID-19 booster shots?

Kupuna can get the latest information about vaccine booster shots during a free telephone forum hosted by state Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble this evening.

AARP Hawaii is sponsoring the “Should I get a COVID-19 Booster Shot?” Telephone Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. today.

Kupuna and others interested in learning about booster shots can register to get a phone call to participate in the forum by going to vekeo.com/aarphawaii.

Those who register or who are already on AARP Hawaii’s phone list will get a call at 6:30 p.m. asking them to participate in the forum.

Participants also can call (833) 305-0175 toll free to join the town hall.

The forum will be available on the AARP Hawaii Facebook page, and questions can be asked in the comment section.

“We know that kupuna have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots. The Telephone Town Hall is one way to give kupuna access to reliable information about vaccines, booster shots and how to get the shots,” said Keali‘i Lopez, AARP Hawaii state director. “The Telephone Town Hall format allows kupuna who do not have internet access to participate by phone, and participants will have an opportunity to ask questions directly of Dr. Kemble.”

According to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the goal is for people to start receiving COVID-19 booster shots beginning in the fall, with individuals being eligible starting eight months after they received their second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

If the federal government recommends a booster dose, people who were first to receive a COVID-19 vaccination when they became available in early 2021 are likely to be the first people eligible for a shot, according to the CDC website.

Kupuna and others also can go to aarp.org/vaccineinfo to get updated information about vaccines and booster shots and aarp.org/hi for updated information about vaccinations in Hawaii.

The Department of Health also has a phone line that’s open during business hours Monday through Friday at (808) 586-8332.

People with vaccine questions also can call the Aloha United Way’s 211 Call Center at 2-1-1. The AUW211 call center is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com