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Hawaii records its first coronavirus-related death of a fully vaccinated person

An Oahu man over the age of 80 has become Hawaii’s first recorded coronavirus-related death of a fully vaccinated resident, according to the state Department of Health.

Health officials said the man had been hospitalized, with multiple underlying conditions.

Since the first residents of Hawaii became fully vaccinated in January, officials say there have been about 120 COVID-19-related deaths, but that this is the first documented fatality of a fully vaccinated person in the state.

The Health Department said the man died several weeks ago, and that his death had been previously reported, but officials only recently became aware of his vaccination status.

A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which means after the second dose of the 2-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

According to the Health Department, more than 99% of the deaths, and about 98% of those recently hospitalized, have been unvaccinated individuals.

“These are very important stats,” department spokesman Brooks Baehr said. “They show just how very effective the vaccines are in preventing severe illness and death. But someone has now died who was fully vaccinated.”

As of today, the state Health Department reported that 1,714,937 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered statewide, with 58.6% of the state having completed vaccinations, and 65.4% having received at least one dose. Among residents ages 75 and up, 90% have been fully vaccinated.

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