AARP Hawai`i Holds Telephone/Online Forums on COVID-19 Vaccine

AARP Hawai`i is holding two lunch-time forums in March to connect kupuna with high-ranking state officials who can answer their questions about the COVID-19 vaccine in Hawai`i.

On Wednesday, March 10, AARP Hawai`i will hold a Telephone Town Hall with Lt. Gov. Josh Green and Ron Balajadia, the head of the Health Department’s Immunization branch. Then, on Tuesday, March 23<sup>rd</sup>, AARP Hawai`i will hold a Zoom webinar with Hawai`i Adjutant Gen. Kenneth Hara and a panel of Health Department officials to answer questions about Hawai`i’s Safe Travels program, the COVID-19 vaccine and other aspects of Hawai`i’s COVID-19 response.

Both forums will start at noon and will be simulcast on Facebook Live on the AARP Hawai`i Facebook page. To register to get a phone call to join the March 10 Telephone Town Hall, go to vekeo.com/aarphawaii and go to aarp.cvent.com/hivaccine3-23 to register to get a Zoom link to join the March 23<sup>rd</sup> webinar. You can also go to the aarp.org/nearyou or the AARP Hawai`i Facebook page and click on upcoming events to register for both forums. A toll-free telephone line has also been set up for those without Internet access to participate in the Telephone Town Hall. Those without internet access can call in at 833-305-0175 at noon on March 10^th. Those with internet access should register online or watch on Facebook Live.

“AARP Hawai`i is committed to giving people information in different platforms so that everyone who wants to get vaccinated can get vaccinated,” said Keali`i Lopez, AARP Hawai`i state director. “The Telephone Town Hall format can reach people without internet as well as those who can go online and who use social media for their information. The Zoom webinar allows us to have a panel discussion in a way that is safe during the pandemic.”