Hawaii FilCom Center to expand vaccination efforts

The Filipino Community Center in Honolulu received $50,000 to expand its vaccination efforts in Oahu and other islands. NAREIT

HONOLULU – The Filipino Community Center’s vaccination clinic targeting Filipino and Pacific Islander communities is planning to expand operations.

More than 250 Filipino and Pacific Islander residents got their COVID vaccine shots at the center in Waipahu on Thursday, April 8, in an event set up by Kaiser Permanente.

According to state data, Filipino and Pacific Islanders account for 41% of all COVID cases in Hawaii and make up roughly 44% of all COVID-related deaths.

“People trust the Filipino Community Center and are comfortable coming here. When they see other people coming to us to get vaccinated, they think ‘We need to do that, too,’” FilCom Executive Director Donnie Juan told Hawaii News Now.

On Thursday, the Filipino Community Center (FilCom) received a $50,000 donation from real estate firm Nareit Hawai’i. The center’s director said the money will help in expanding the center’s vaccination efforts in Oahu and other islands.

“It’s a community effort, it’s a statewide effort that we all have to help each other. This pandemic doesn’t discriminate, so we really need to work together to get herd immunity going.” Juan said.

The clinic is open every second Thursday of the month by appointment only.  Click here for information on how to sign up.