VA Pacific Islands Health Care System

Veteran Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System

VAPIHCS Veterans,  

What an incredible week we had!  I was able to get out to meet many of our homeless Veterans who were receiving their COVID-19 vaccine, some of them were among the first to receive the Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) vaccine. I am so proud to see the teamwork that our staff is providing –safe, compassionate, quality care. From our medical support assistants who schedule and check-in the Veterans, to our pharmacists who are overseeing the safe transport and filling each syringe, tracking our every shot, to our nurses who are taking time to answer questions before giving the shot and many of our homeless team, many who are social workers were on hand. Mahalo to the van drivers who transported our Veterans to the Cloudbreak vaccine event, this was another successful event. For those who have not seen the Cloudbreak facility that provides our homeless Veterans with a wonderful place to call home. Shout out to our VAPIHCS homeless team, led by Andy Dahlburg, great job in all you guys are doing to honor our Veterans, giving them hope and ability to rebuild their lives. 

Our homeless Veterans could easily become one of the population that is overlooked in a community, but we are making them a priority to ensure they get the vaccine. They are among our most vulnerable Veteran group, they often live in close quarters with one another, spending time with each other. Many of our Veterans spoke of how challenging this past year has been having to physically distance from others.  They told me what they look forward to the most now that they have the vaccine is the camaraderie they have with one another.  This is such an important part of their healing.

I had the pleasure to meet Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor Josh Green, who attended our Homeless Vaccine event.  He is also committed to our Veterans and has offered his support if needed.  We will work closely with his office to do more outreach events, to include vaccine events to other islands in the state.  He spoke about his new Kalaeloa Tiny Homes project which he is spearheading and that will be operated by US Vets.  I also had the opportunity to meet U.S. Vets chief operating officer, Darryl Vincent (Marine Veteran), and Greg Williams, U.S. Vets program director who we are co-located with out there in Barbers Point.  When they say it takes a village, it really does take everyone working together and I’m glad we have these amazing community partners. Mahalo to Richelle Taylor, Director of Property Management for Cloudbreak Communities who took the time to give everyone a tour of the facility and I can tell she takes great pride in the 288-room facility.

There was such positive energy in making the COVID Vaccination Outreach at Cloudbreak a success.  Together, we administered 160 vaccines (Moderna and Janssen). Our vaccine event has been featured at KITV Channel 4.  Watch the video here.

I rushed back from the Barbers Point event to virtually meet with Guam Congressman Michael San Nicolas regarding our vaccine efforts in Guam. As I have mentioned previously, Veterans in Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas are receiving their vaccine through the Department of Health in their island.  We are exploring ways how we can support the efforts to ensure our Veterans in these areas are getting their vaccines. Our staff in American Samoa are supporting their vaccine distribution through the VA’s 4th Mission.

Mass Vaccine Event

VAPIHCS will be hosting a mass COVID Vaccine distribution by appointment only –1-800-214-1306, no walk-ins at this time.

•  MARCH 13 – VACCINE EVENT: Ke’ehi Lagoon Memorial Park
   MARCH 20 – VACCINE EVENT: Army National Guard Kalaeloa

Veterans who have pre-registered for the event by calling 1-800-214-1306 will receive the COVID vaccine. VAPIHCS will provide vaccinations to eligible Veterans who are registered for VA health care on March 13, 2021, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Currently, we are vaccinating our Veterans who are 60 years old or older, high risk, or an essential/frontline employee. Appointments are made by calling 1-800-214-1306 and are available Monday- Fridays until 8 p.m. and Saturdays until 4 p.m. Currently we have vaccinated more than 8K people.

COVID Vaccine Update

To date VAPIHCS has vaccinated: 8539
1116 Employees
7423 Veterans
VA continues to expand its efforts to vaccinate Veterans and caregivers
We were able to administer the new single-dose J&J (Janssen) vaccine this week. We now have three highly effective vaccines available in the US, particularly against such severe COVID-19 outcomes as hospitalization and death.

• The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) general mask use guidance has been updated to recommend masks that fit well to the face (snugly) and consist of multiple layers including the use of double masks. The goal of the new guidance is to minimize the leakage in and out along the edge of the mask. Information on this change can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/effective-masks.html
• The new CDC guidance does not change Veterans Health Administration policy as masks continue to be required at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. Patients, visitors, and staff should be informed of the new CDC guidance and VA facilities should review the appropriateness of masks they provide to these individuals. VA staff can continue to wear their own masks that meet CDC guidelines in VA facilities unless they require personal protective equipment (PPE) for a high-risk exposure to COVID-19.

Keep up the 3W’s!
It’s important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic, even after vaccination.
Veterans and employees should continue to:

• Wear a face covering
  • Watch your distance (stay 6 feet apart)
  • Wash hands frequently

When you can get the COVID-19 vaccine, I hope you do—I know I’m glad to have received mine. It’s our best shot at beating this virus, looking out for one another, and getting back to some of the things we miss. Getting vaccinated will save lives –and that life could be yours.

It is our honor to provide you with safe, compassionate and quality care!

One Team, One Ohana!
Adam M. Robinson, Jr., MD, MBA, CPE
Director, VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
VADM, MC, USN, (RET)
36th Surgeon General, USN

Stay Informed

• Website: hawaii.va.gov – submit your email to get our updates
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VAPacificIslands
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/va_pacific_islands/
  • VAPIHCS USAJOBS: https://www.hawaii.va.gov/careers/index.asp
  • Weekly Radio VA Updates:

     Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m. on AM830, KHVH with Rick Hamada
     Thursdays, 5:30 p.m. on AM690, The Answer – Aligned with Veterans hour with Mike Buck