TheNational Institutes of Health(NIH) has awarded nearly $3 million to a University ofHawaiiat Mnoa-led project expanding COVID-19 testing in schools statewide. The funding supports thePacific Alliance Against COVID-19(PAAC) pilot project, which establishes a novel protocol for rapid testing at schools, collecting behavioral data, and disseminating information on mitigation procedures and vaccination.<\/p>\n
The consortium effort is led byUHMnoasJohn A. Burns School of Medicine(JABSOM),College of Social Sciencesand the Accountable Healthcare Alliance of RuralOahu(AHARO).<\/p>\n
PAACs goal is to empower educators, students and the community-at-large with education tools and connections with public health services, including those provided by theAHAROCommunity Health Centers, said Associate Professor in Pediatrics and co-investigatorMay Okihiro. The plan is for free antigen testing of school teachers and staff to be expanded to schools inWaianaeand Waimnalo onOahu, Hmkua-Kohala and Hilo onHawaiiIsland, and onMolokai.<\/p>\n
PAACs novel protocol wassuccessfully tested this springin partnership with Kamaile Academy (K-12) inWaianae. The project offered free weekly SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing of teachers and staff.<\/p>\n
About 87% of participants reported their participation led to a better understanding of the need for antigen testing, and 52% were more likely to be vaccinated as a result of the pilot testing and education program, said project co-investigatorRuben Juarez, a professor of economics and research fellow in theUHEconomic Research Organizationin the College of Social Sciences.<\/p>\n
The project reaffirms that schools are an asset in preventing the spread of COVID-19 into our communities, added project co-investigatorAlika Maunakea, an associate professor inJABSOMs Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry & Physiology and the Institute for Biogenesis Research.<\/p>\n
UHMnoa is one of 15 institutions to receive aNIHaward through theRADx-Underserved Populations(RADx-UP) Safe Return to School Diagnostic Testing initiative, a part of theRapid Acceleration of Diagnostics(RADx) initiative.<\/p>\n
The new awards reaffirmNIHs commitment to use evidence-based research to inform policy makers of the safest ways to return to schools in vulnerable and underserved communities, said Eliseo J. Prez-Stable, director ofNIHs National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and co-chair of theRADx-UPprogram.<\/p>\n
The initiative will specifically focus on schools with racially and ethnically diverse populations, including African-Americans, Latinos\/Latinas, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans. It will also impact socio-economically disadvantaged populations and school districts where many students are receiving free or reduced price lunch; and students with medical complexities and developmental disabilities.<\/p>\n
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Read more: TheNational Institutes of Health(NIH) has awarded nearly $3 million to a University ofHawaiiat Mnoa-led project expanding COVID-19 testing in schools statewide. The funding supports thePacific Alliance Against COVID-19(PAAC) pilot project, which establishes a novel protocol for rapid testing at schools, collecting behavioral data, and disseminating information on mitigation procedures and vaccination. Continue reading
\nUH Mnoa Gets $3M Boost to Expand - Big Island Now<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"