HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0360.010 2020-2022 PRPX
WHIK.X41
COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY of HAWAVI
RECEIVED
TimeBy
Annoy Broderson, FNP-C,APRN Date AUG 1 6 2021
Testimony RB.Communication 360
As a nurse practitionerthat has been on the. "frontlines" since March 2020 conducting'estin ,
vaccinations and evaluating and treating those with symptoms or exposure to COVID, 1 ern
deeply concerned with the current surge of cases. I Cully support the latest restrictions of
gathering sizes but fear that it may be too late to mitigate the influx that is on track act
overwhelm our island's hospital resources,
Expanded access to high-volume testing is sorely needed again, My clinic is seeing twice the
v6ume of patients for testing;as we usually would have time to see-our staff.working through
lunch and staying late to accommodate as many as possible, but still having to turn peo>pie
away. Urgent cares are equally overwhelmed causing people to seek testing at the ER where
resources are already scarce. I have seen delays in diagnosis and additional transmission
because of the lack of testing access, When prevalence is-5%,consistent, high-volume testis
in Hilo and Kona is needed three times weekly and at least weekly in all other districts, in my
humble opinion.
Support services for those in quarantine for exposure or carina;for a COVID -child is another
needed resource to allow;families to quarantine and isolate effectively.To eery understanding,
unless their employer is voluntarily participating in American Rescue flan continuation of 202
FFCPA eligibility for EFMLA benefits,the only gray to get compensated while quarantining or
sick;,with COVID is to use paid time off or sick leave time. I am fully vaccinated as is my 1-ushand,
,but if either of us gets sick with COVID or our daughter is exposed at school or beeom"as vicar:
.with COVID(she is not yet eligible for vaccinat on), we would have to use savings to pay our
bills. Fortunately,we have savings but so many families do not. It is easy to see why some
would choose to go to work when sick/exposed or send their child to school with symptoms if
Financial hardship limits their-ability to quarantine and isolate effectively,
On the issue of vaccine mandates, I feel that in general,they do little to change behavior but
rather,Cause much counterproductive pushback and will further stress access to testing for
those that apt out of vaccination. I think a more successful way to address vaccine hesitancy is
to engage community leaders to endorse vaccination and provide easy means to do so. Because
the vaccine debate has beer)so political and the public has lost trust in government leaders and
media, even my counseling as a healthcare provider often falls on deaf cars. Especiailly th
(dative Hawaiian and church leaders could have a powerful voice to get these groups to
reconsider vaccination..I am seeing great vaccine resistance and growing rase counts in ,Ines'
groups in particular.
Mahalo to our county leaders and healthcare workers that continue to do every thing possible
to support our commUrlity during tht�se difficult times, I choose to embody a spirit of humility,
empathy,and hope that%ve can pall together during the delta surge without too n7ar y lives
lost.
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Comm. No. �IWO AQL
Ref. To:
Ref. DateALTU 2021