Ruben Juarez
Opposing Role of Trust as a Modifier of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in an Indigenous Population
Abstract: Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and remain significantly under-vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. To understand vaccine hesitancy, we surveyed 1124 adults residing in a region with one of the lowest vaccination rates in Hawaii during our COVID-19 testing program. Probit regression analysis revealed that race/ethnicity was not directly associated […]
Read MoreFinancial Implications of COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction Tests on Independent Laboratories
During the COVID-19 pandemic, independent laboratories provided critically needed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests (Current Procedure Terminology Code: 87635) to identify positive COVID-19 patients. The Families First and Coronavirus Relief Act and CARES Act require commercial insurance plans to cover COVID-19 testing costs without any cost-sharing for patients, but do not set the price.1,2 Prior […]
Read MoreUHERO Rapid Health Survey: Longitudinal analysis of health disparities in Hawai’i
The UHERO Rapid Health Survey is building the data infrastructure at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and UHERO that will allow us to inform the design and execution of public health programs in the state of Hawaii for COVID-19 and other disasters while simultaneously addressing systemic health disparities. The study is open to adults […]
Read MoreThe effects of COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Hawai‘i
Having been affected by the highest increase in COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, Honolulu and Maui counties in Hawaii implemented vaccine passport mandates for select industries in September 2021. However, the degree to which such mandates impacted COVID-19 mitigation efforts and economics remains poorly understood. Herein, we describe the effects of these […]
Read MoreThe Efficacy of Hawaii COVID-19 Business Mandates
By Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, May Okihiro, and Carl Bonham Despite the national attention around COVID-19 vaccination mandates for businesses, including President Biden’s recent announcement, the actual impacts on vaccination uptake have yet to be reported. In September, two counties in Hawaii implemented mandates for employees in select businesses to be either vaccinated or enroll […]
Read MoreBlog: COVID-19 Mandates: Recommendations for Hawaiʻi Businesses
Read the full UHERO brief. By Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, May Okihiro, and Carl Bonham Faced with the largest increase in cases since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaii needs effective solutions that would reduce the number of cases disproportionately ravaging communities in the state. In August 2021, the University of Hawaii Economic Research […]
Read MoreCOVID-19 Mandates: Recommendations for Hawaiʻi Businesses
Read the summary blog post. By Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, May Okihiro, and Carl Bonham Faced with the largest increase in cases since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaii needs effective solutions that would reduce the number of cases disproportionately ravaging communities in the state. In August 2021, the University of Hawaii Economic Research […]
Read MoreUHERO partnering in Back on the Wave Oʻahu
The City and County of Honolulu and UHERO’s Ruben Juarez have developed a COVID-19 health and safety assessment for businesses in Oʻahu. Businesses, let your customers know that you’re helping Oʻahu get back on the wave, and earn free personal protective equipment and free signage. Customers can access the directory of businesses and safe practices […]
Read MoreCOVID-19 recovery study
UHERO Research Fellow Ruben Juarez and collaborators from the John A. Burns School of Medicine are examining the recovery and progression of individuals with COVID-19 in order to design better strategies for the recovery of other infected individuals. The project is recruiting up to 100 participants who have tested positive over the last 60 days (anytime on […]
Read More