The State Department of Health has reported 90 new cases of COVID-19 in the state, bringing the state’s total to 19,235 total cases of COVID-19.

The Big Island added 10 cases. The island has lost 49 people to COVID-19.  The State’s formal COVID-19 death toll is 273.

The island-by-island breakdown as provided by State Department of Health, reflecting numbers from Friday, Dec. 12, 2020:

Lt. Gov. Josh Green, M.D., spoke about Hawaii’s vaccine plans on today’s Island Conversations, in a discussion with host Sherry Bracken that was recorded Friday.  Green said the state will receive 81,000 doses of the first two COVID-19 vaccines, that from Pfizer/BioNTech–approved Friday by the FDA–and the one from Moderna, which will be reviewed by the FDA this Thursday, Dec. 17. The first vaccine shipments have already begun leaving the Pfizer plant in Michigan, and are expected to arrive in all 50 states Monday or early Tuesday.  Pfizer has an elaborate tracking and monitoring system to ensure the vaccines, once shipped, maintain their ultra-cold temperature.

The plan as it stands now is to have hospitals first inoculate those front line health workers who wish to get the vaccine.  Hilo Medical Center and Kona Community Hospital have said they have appropriate freezers to store the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at -70 degrees, as required, until it’s time to give the shots.  Green said those living in senior living facilities will be getting the vaccine as a high priority.  Although in Governor David Ige’s press conference Thursday about vaccine distribution, Walgreens and CVS were mentioned as pharmacies that would be involved in getting vaccines to those higher risk seniors, the local Big Island CVS team members in the pharmacy say they do not yet have details on what their role will be.

A source within the County says that the State Department of Health is managing vaccine distribution for the Big Island.  The tentative plan at this time is for first responders –police and fire personnel, who are often in the position of assisting and treating people with COVID-19–to be able to receive the vaccine at drive-through vaccination sites between Dec. 22 and 24.   Those getting the shot would need to wait at the location to ensure they have no dizziness or other immediate side effects.  Green in the conversation about vaccines said anybody getting the vaccine will need to wait 15 minutes before leaving the area to ensure there are no immediate side effects, as is done when people get the shingles vaccine, for example.