Hawaii to Require Booster Shot to be Considered Fully Vaccinated

Government officials in Hawaii announced that travelers arriving in the state would soon need to show proof of a coronavirus booster shot to be considered fully vaccinated.

According to Hawaii News Now, Governor David Ige announced the state had made changes to its Safe Travels program, including the new requirement that a booster shot will be necessary to be considered fully vaccinated and skip the traveler quarantine.

Gov. Ige said the vaccination requirements would go into effect in around two weeks, which should give tourists planning to visit Hawaii enough time to adjust accordingly. The current rules allow out-of-state travelers to skip quarantine with proof of two vaccine doses or a negative test.

"We know that the community needs time to react to that, so we would have to provide at least two weeks for those who may not be up to date to go to have the opportunity to go and get vaccinated if they need to," Ige told Hawaii News Now.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not require people to receive a booster to be considered fully vaccinated, an increasing number of government agencies and destinations are mandating the booster shots.

Gov. Ige said it would be up to the county mayors across Hawaii to require the additional vaccination shots to gain access to restaurants and events, but would be willing to step in and issue a statewide order if the number of confirmed coronavirus cases become an issue for the state's medical care system.

Earlier this month, the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) announced several changes to its Safe Travels program, including the mandatory self-quarantine period for unvaccinated travelers or those arriving without a negative COVID-19 test being reduced from 10 days to five days.