Fellows mentioned in this story: Josie Howard, Cohort VIII

From Hawai‘i Public Radio:

Hawaii’s Pacific Islander communities have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is not clear if they are actually receiving the vaccine.

It was a rainy day outside Kalihi Palama Health center as people over the age of 65 sat in front of the facility waiting to get their COVID-19 vaccination. It was part of a clinic put on by We Are Oceania, a Micronesian advocacy group.

“It takes trust,” said Josie Howard, the organization’s program director. “When they see familiar faces, when they hear people who can speak their language, and who can understand the culture, and the language makes it really easy for them to trust. And I think because we have a relationship established already, that it made it easier for us. And having staff from each community on our team made it really easy.”

Listen at hawaiipublicradio.org.