Immunizations and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders
Immunization is the process of developing immunity, most often through vaccines. Vaccines train the immune system to recognize and fight infections in a safe way. They greatly reduce the chance of getting sick, needing hospital care, or dying from infectious diseases. When many people are vaccinated, it also helps protect the community by slowing the spread of disease, including protecting people who cannot get vaccinated. Vaccines may cause mild side effects like tiredness or soreness for a short time, but the protection they provide can last for many years or even a lifetime.
Infections can be unpredictable and serious, even when symptoms are mild or not noticeable. Vaccines help the body build protection before exposure, which is important because it may be too late to prevent illness after infection. Some vaccines need more than one dose to give full protection, and boosters may be needed over time.
See “Additional Resources” to learn more about the benefits and possible risks of vaccines.
In 2024, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NHPI) adults got the flu vaccine 29% less often than U.S. adults overall.
In 2024, NHPI adults got the pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine 34% less often than U.S. adults overall.
NHPI children born in 2020 were 12% less likely to be fully vaccinated by age 2 compared with all U.S. children born that year.
Children born in 2020 who received the full series (either a 3-dose series or a 4-dose series depending upon the product type) of the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine by age 24 months, percentage
Children born in 2020 who received at least 2 or at least 3 doses of the rotavirus vaccine (depending upon the product type) by age 24 months, percentage
