State: 87.6% of executive branch fully vaccinated

Nearly 88% of the state’s executive branch employees have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, according to data released Wednesday by the Department of Human Resources Development. By next month, 92% of employees are expected to be inoculated.

The data cover 14,000 employees, but does not include staff of the Department of Education and the University of Hawaii.

The state released the statistics, which were dated as of Aug. 16, after Gov. David Ige this month began requiring state employees to either show proof of vaccination or get tested every week.

Employees who choose not to be vaccinated are subject to regular COVID-19 testing. According to the report, 7.6% of state employees are unvaccinated and 87 people have applied for an exemption from the vaccination or testing requirement. Eleven employees have been placed on leave without pay because they did not return their attestation.

The department noted that as of Aug. 16, 98.6% of state employees were in compliance with the new mandate.

“I am pleased with the vaccination and compliance rates, and I continue to encourage state employees and eligible Hawaii residents to get vaccinated to protect their families, communities and themselves,” said Gov. David Ige. “Let’s do our part to stop the surge and get our lives back.”

The highest fully vaccinated rates came from the Departments of Human Resources and Development (96.3%), Attorney General (94.3%) and Budget and Finance (91%). The lowest fully vaccinated rates came from the departments of Public Safety (77.1%), Hawaiian Home Lands (80.3%) and Human Services (82.8%).