Don’t hesitate to get vaccinations

A spike in measles cases on the mainland is rightly prompting public health concern at the state level about the trend of “vaccine hesitancy.” Statewide, 97% of schoolchildren are up to date on their immunizations. But Hawaii’s rate for religious exemption is more than double rates of a decade ago.

The combination of hesitancy and the annual flow of millions of visitors leave us especially vulnerable to the highly infectious disease. California is one of the few states that has stripped away any “personal belief” type of vaccine exemption for children in both public and private schools. Hawaii should follow suit.

Real ID gold star to be needed to travel

Oct. 1, 2020, seems a long way off, but those who’ve been through the Real ID wringer will attest: It will come too quickly for those who wait until the last minute. That’s the deadline to get a Real ID gold star on state IDs or driver’s licenses; after that, a gold star ID or a passport will be needed to get on a plane.

Tip: At www.honolulu.gov/csd/dllicense go to the “make an appointment” link in red. It will be far less painful than waiting in those long lines.