30 new COVID cases today on the Big Island; Pfizer vaccine approved for children 5 to 11

Thirty new cases of COVID-19 were reported today in Hawaii County.

There are 414 active cases, and 13 people are hospitalized.

Hawaii County has averaged 30 new cases per day over the past seven days, and has a 4% test positivity rate — the highest in the state.

COVID-19 testing today is at the following locations: from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Pahoa District Park in Puna, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Old Airport Pavilion in Kailua-Kona.

For a comprehensive calendar and list of all pharmacies and clinics providing vaccination and testing, as well as community vaccination and test events, please visit the Civil Defense website. www.hawaiicounty.gov

Statewide, 71.2% of the population has been fully vaccinated. In Hawaii County, 67% of people been fully vaccinated.

Earlier today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 through 11 years of age.

The authorization was based on the FDA’s evaluation of the data that included input from independent advisory committee experts who overwhelmingly voted in favor of making the vaccine available to children in this age group.

“Vaccinating younger children against COVID-19 will bring us closer to returning to a sense of normalcy,” Dr. Janet Woodcock, the acting FDA commissioner, said in a statement. “Our comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of the data pertaining to the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness should help assure parents and guardians that this vaccine meets our high standards.”