1000s of COVID vaccines expected here in January

| 10/12/2020 | 174 Comments

(CNS): The arrival of several thousand vaccines in the first week of January will trigger stage one of Cayman’s COVID-19 national vaccination programme. Premier Alden McLaughlin said the shot will pave the way towards further reopening of the borders by March. But worried that public fears may impact uptake, he said that despi,te not being in the first group earmarked for the vaccine, he will be at the front of the queue.

McLaughlin said he would take the shot to lead by example and show faith in the safety and efficacy of what will be a voluntary programme. The Pfizer jab was approved by the UK regulator last week and given to the first elderly people across the UK on Tuesday. This vaccine will be delivered here first, with other vaccines following behind it via the regional COVAX initiative.

The national vaccination programme is a central part of the plan to lift the border restrictions next year that will initially include the current isolation programme and stepped up testing. In a statement in the parliament on Thursday, McLaughlin laid out how the government will prioritise the vaccines.

“The objectives of the National Plan closely align with those set out by major public health agencies such as the Pan American Health Organisation and Public Health England,” he said.

The goal is to protect the integrity of the healthcare system and infrastructure by vaccinating health workers at all levels of care followed by other essential services. The elderly and those at greatest risk will be next before the vaccine is offered to the wider community. At that point Cayman will begin to generate widespread immunity

“There is work to be done to successfully reach these objectives before the vaccine arrives, much of which is already underway,” McLaughlin said, adding that plans are in place to tackle “the considerable misinformation that is already in the public domain”.

The Health Services Authority has large quantities of syringes, needles, sharps boxes and equipment on order as well as additional specialised freezers. The premier said health officials are confident they will be able to commence this mass vaccination programme using existing resources. “Health officials believe that, with all preparations in place, they should be able to vaccinate some 3,000 people per week,” he said.

Once the vaccine arrives priority will be given to healthcare workers and institutional residents, who will begin to be vaccinated immediately, followed by other essential front-line workers, such as airport staff who are coming into contact with travellers, and then the over 60s.

In stage two of the voluntary vaccination programme, it will be available to essential service workers, teachers and school staff, as well as people living in the households of anyone from the stage one. At this point the government proposes further opening of borders, around one month into the start of the overall vaccination programme, “by which time we should be have vaccinated our most vulnerable”.

However, all travellers entering the Cayman Islands must be able to show that they have received an approved vaccine against the virus before arrival, along with a negative results from a PCR test upon arrival. People meeting the conditions will be exempted from quarantine if they are staying in households where the other residents have also received a vaccine. They will then undergo further testing on day 5, 10 and 15 from the arrival date.

Regular PCR screening will continue with safety restrictions for healthcare workers, healthcare establishments, nursing homes and prisons. Those involved in hosting travellers, including all port workers, hotel workers, restaurateurs, bar workers, leisure companies, taxi drivers and anyone else working in tourism, will be tested for COVID-19 regularly.

The Public Health Department will monitor the situation and will get the additional human resources as necessary

“Taking the vaccine is voluntary,” McLaughlin stressed but he encouraged everyone to learn about the shots and to keep their minds open to the many benefits that participation in the voluntary national vaccination programme will offer.

“It is an opportunity for us, as individuals, to take action to protect this community that we love so much, and which has done so much for us, while at the same time we protect ourselves,” he said.

“Government will remain vigilant throughout this process, as we monitor the roll-out of the vaccination, the proposed travel changes, and their impact on our society. Should there be an indication of substantial and worrisome community transmission… or if we were required to move up a suppression level, preventive measures will be promptly tightened,” he warned.

Until the shots arrive, he encouraged people to practice the preventive measures followed so far, including washing hands, practicing respiratory hygiene, and following social distancing recommendations.

Following the premier’s statement, the governor released his own, in which he said that the UK was fully committed to supplying vaccines to the territories. Cayman, Bermuda and Gibraltar were getting the Pfizer vaccine because they all have the necessary very low temperature cold storage, he said.

The UK is likely to send the first batch to Cayman on the 5 January flight with far more coming relatively quickly after the first batch.

“I am willing to take the vaccine myself as soon as I am invited to do so and I encourage everyone to do the same. In this way we can protect our population and get back to normal life,” Roper added.

See full statements by the premier and the governor in the CNS Library.


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  1. Anonymous says:

    Jesus, the Word of God would be incapable of creating this fake virus because He is truth personified.
    Ridicule Him at your own peril.
    After you die, and you will, then what?
    Oh Jesus, I am sorry. I did not know you were real.
    Jesus: Next.

  2. Anonymous says:

    I do not understand one thing.
    People who are all going to die are arguing about how to live a tad longer.
    Pathetic.
    We would be better off preparing to die and meeting our Creator face to face and give account of ourselves.
    Stop being stupid and face the truth.
    If you cannot face God now, fix your life so you can.
    Do not listen to liars who will die just like you.

  3. Annie says:

    How do I sign up to get a vaccine? I work in retail.

  4. Anonymous says:

    My (hopefully) last post on this because honestly, trying to help people only to be called an antivaxxer after a lifetime of having no issues with and taking many other properly tested and proven vaccines, Ive had enough.

    Im honestly scared for people who think this vaccine means that SARS-COV2 and Covid19 will magically disappear or that masks or social distancing will end anytime soon.

    So first, going back to the beginning – as defined by WHO, the difference between SARS-COV2 – the virus and Covid-19 – the disease which sometimes results from the virus (here many are asymptomatic so far so did not develop or get symptoms of the disease – Covid-19):

    https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/naming-the-coronavirus-disease-(covid-2019)-and-the-virus-that-causes-it

    Official names have been announced for the virus responsible for COVID-19 (previously known as “2019 novel coronavirus”) and the disease it causes.  The official names are:

    Disease
    coronavirus disease
    (COVID-19)

    Virus
    severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
    (SARS-CoV-2)

    And then from what used to be trusted medical site but if you believe CNN more then I cant help you – read the benefits of taking the “Covid19” vax. Note its not called SARS-COV2 vax because its just for reducing Covid-19 symptoms as appropriately named. Read how it MIGHT help you as well as zero guarantee that a vaccinated person cannot continue to get and spread the virus.

    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-vaccine/art-20484859

    Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can help protect you by creating an antibody response in your body without your having to become sick with COVID-19.

    A COVID-19 vaccine might prevent you from getting COVID-19. Or, if you get COVID-19, the vaccine might keep you from becoming seriously ill or from developing serious complications.

    Im one of those people whos always trying to help people but Im told its time to just let it go. So best of luck to you all. Bless.

    • Anonymous says:

      Great Post,

      Basically for all you here that don’t want to open the border because of face masks I hate to tell you they will be back on here in the islands vey soon until we know the success of the vaccine and what protection we really get,

    • Anonymous says:

      I hear you, 2:10! Thank you.

      The problem is, people hear what they want to hear and reject the rest.

      Just like you, I did try to bring pro-vaxx FANATICS (and I am not an ani-vaxxer) attention to the NEW field of study called pharmacogenetics (vacinomics) – how variation in one single gene influences the response to a single drug or vaccine which can heal and protect one, but kill or injure another.

      Science today recognizes that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to drugs and vaccines. Yet, all fanatics hear is that if one advocates for safer vaccines, which do exist, or genetic testing (not being done yet on a large scale) for a particular vaccine known for adverse effects after inoculation, then he is an anti-vaxxer.

      Genetic Predisposition for Adverse Events after Vaccination
      https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/196/2/176/871050
      “It is highly likely that widespread genetic testing will become a common feature of vaccine testing protocols. In fact, a testing sequence using genomewide arrays for genetic polymorphisms followed by transcriptional and proteomic arrays at multiple time points in association with sophisticated laboratory immunological assays and carefully graded clinical scores will likely become the norm. ”

      Genetics and Vaccines in the Era of Personalized Medicine
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4412964/

      Of course, one would find lots of articles that say that genetic screening before vaccination is pointless. We always find what we are looking for.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Toothpastes with zinc and tin are able to neutralize the coronavirus by 99.9% in two minutes. Such conclusions were reached by American scientists during laboratory research. The results are published in the British Dental Journal.
    https://www.nature.com/collections/jhcagbcgje

    CNS: May well be, but just like bleach, you don’t inject yourself with it to neutralize it in the human body (unlike a vaccine) unless you’re a Trump groupie.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Big Pharma wants to heal you.

  7. Anon says:

    I’m in the high risk group. I will take the vaccine. I will hopefully get on with my life. I will not force you to take the vaccine. You may live your life as you wish. Do NOT presume to tell me how to live my life, I am not telling you how to live yours. Simple

  8. Frank says:

    Most of the Western vaccines are crap: one needs -70 refrigeration, another is based on chimpanzee adenovirus, other like Moderna is using a new platform never used before and nobody knows the long term consequences… Get vaccinated at your own risk, as the good vaccine using human adenovirus, Sputnik V, will not be offered to you because it’s Russian… Totally pathetic and disgusting, as the same company developed several successful vaccines, including against Ebola on the same platform!

  9. Anonymous says:

    How much the vaccine cost. Will it be covered by insurance?

  10. Anonymous says:

    The lord giveth the ‘rona, the lord taketh away the ‘rona.

    • Anonymous says:

      The “Lord” had nothing to do with this.
      He does however have a lot to do with Truth and if you are on that side, rejoice, if not, sucks to be you.

  11. Anonymous says:

    When is Sputnik coming? I’ll take that over this Trump vaccine any day.

  12. Anonymous says:

    No one in my family will be permitted to take the vaccine.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Not a chance!!

    It’s all part of the plan.

    I would rather just have covid.

  14. Anonynous says:

    First time I have ever been happy to say I am over 60!!

  15. Anonymous says:

    That’s gonna be a no from me, dawg.

  16. Anonymous says:

    How about students before they return to the petri dishes of the UK and USA.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Will people who suffer allergies that are not medically able to receive the vaccine be allowed to enter Cayman ( then quarantine for the +14 days)Returning residents from the UK are asking the question.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Hopefully Dr Lee won’t seize the shipment

  19. Anonymous says:

    This is disappointing. A couple of thousand vaccines will not be enough to allow the government to make any adjustment to the travel/quarantine protocols. Unfortunately this current travel situation and no tourism is going to continue throughout the 2021 tourism season and probably into summer. The only way this changes is if we manage to get sufficient vaccines for the entire island. Considering that cayman is the size is a small town in the US or the UK, this should be possible. But it will be politically difficult to get the vaccine through traditional political channels because we don’t have an urgent healthcare need for the vaccine because we have done such a good job tamping out community spread. Out need is economic more than public health and this will always take a back seat. We are going to have to get this vaccine on our own, much like the way we got the test kits. I hope the private sector is working with government to make this happen. If the hotel management and owners want to to accelerate cayman’s reopening – find and bring the vaccine to Cayman. If we have to rely on the UK, we could be a year or more away from a solution.

    • Hubert says:

      Be thankful. If we were not a British colony we would be not be getting vaccinations till June. Being a colony has its perks.

      We are not as important in the big scheme of things as we like to think.

      • Anonymous says:

        Ummm you don’t know very much about the world Mr be thankful to be part of the UK. Just look to the north and all the celebrities and monied might will be getting the vaccine FIRST. The UK is a rich country and Cayman per capita is much richer. Get sick and have no money and you’ll learn quick. This had nothing to do with the UK and everything to do with money. Ps China has a a vaccine and Russia too.. Just we wont ever get those because
        .. Same reasons… Pronounce it out. MooooonnnnnnnEEEEEYYYYY

        • Anonymous says:

          8:15, You obviously are totally ignorant on how the vaccines are going to be distributed in the U.S. and Canada. Need to study a bit more.

          On top of that, the Russians and China have the vaccine but have serious manufacturing and distribution problems.

    • Anonymous says:

      Incoming travelers have to be vaccinated and have negative test. That protects everyone here pretty damn well.

      • Anonymous says:

        @09:56 am
        travelers have to? nobody “has to”.
        it will never be mandatory, humans have rights

        • Anonymous says:

          And with those rights come responsibilities.
          A question for you- in your mind do your individual rights trump those of the greater community?

          With choices come consequences. Some may choose not to be vaccinated. With that, they may not be allowed entry into certain destinations.
          Their right to not be vaccinated remains in tact.

          You can have anything you want in life, but you can’t have it all.

        • Trevr says:

          Traveller’s may “have” to, they still have a choice they can choose not to travel. I have to have a yellow fever vaccination to enter some countries, but nobody forces me to go to those countries.

      • Anonymous says:

        How so? Are you under the illusion that the vaccine stops the SARS-COV2 virus spreading? Because, as named, its only to suppress Covid19 symptoms. They are 2 different things.

      • Anonymous says:

        9:56, You are confused with Barbados and Bermuda.

  20. Anonymous says:

    So what happens to the spike of proteins that our bodies make because the vaccine tells it to? Do they die off or keep going?

  21. Anonymous says:

    More gross overreach by our nanny state. Once those who choose to be vaccinated have been so, what does it matter about anyone else coming here, local or otherwise?

    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly! If the vaccine is the “holy grail” that we need to reopen, and everyone on island that wants it has had it, it shouldn’t matter one bit if someone traveling here has had it or not.

      Either the vaccine is the magic fix or it’s not.

      • Anonymous says:

        I take it you did not study science beyond second grade.

      • Anonymous says:

        Not. Being healthy is the “not so magic” common sense fix.

      • Anonymous says:

        Cayman residents being vaccinated will allow several doors to open.
        1.It will not only protect the person, but also allow a measure of safety for others locally.
        2.It will allow the recipient to travel to other countries. Right now, many countries that are to start their own vaccination programme, have stated it will be a mandatory entry requirement to that country for both its own citizens and visitors.
        3.It will allow quarantine requirements to be eased , if not totally done away with.
        4.It will give the tourism industry a future , possibly in the short term this year, to see a partial resumption.
        5.Last but not least ,it will allow airlines to resume their industry and revenue, from the drastic cut we have seen this year.

    • Anonymous says:

      We have people who are pregnant and not eligible for the vaccine. We have people who have allergies who cannot take the vaccine. We have people having cancer therapy who cannot take the vaccine. Whether it suits you or not their right to health Trumps the voluntary choices of unvaccinated tourists.

      • Trev says:

        If as many people who can take the vaccine do take it then the chance of transmission to those who can’t take it will be reduced to a very low level.

    • Anonymous says:

      You 8:23 msy you never get Dick sorry meant sick!

  22. Anonymous says:

    Thanks, but no thanks.

    – Who

  23. Anonymous says:

    Does this first delivery also cover the booster following first jab in the figures mentioned. Hope Dr Lee will issue full details.

  24. Anonymous says:

    Hell no I’m not taking any vaccine and I will encourage everyone I know to do the same.

  25. Anonymous says:

    “Changes in restrictions for those arriving from overseas will include proof of vaccination.” said Premier. 😷😷😷
    Does he know that vaccine is still experimental?🤯🤯🤯 Does he know what that means?

    • Anonymous says:

      We’re screwed. Good luck hitting those tourism targets that were mentioned. Many many persons, worldwide, will be refusing this vaccine until more is known about its effectiveness and side effects. I’m worried about our tourism industry ever recovering.

      • Anonymous says:

        A tourist client population that excludes idiots would be a most welcome change. We should advertise our interest in having discerning clients not idiot antivaxxers.

      • Anonymous says:

        That’s strange……. You are worried about our tourism and I don’t really give a ratz azz about tourism. Oh, well…… to each his (or her) own.

    • Anonymous says:

      who downvotes questions?

    • Anonymous says:

      Dear 5:13 am, No and No! No one has told him yet.

  26. Anonymous says:

    No chance. If you want to take an untested chemical in your body, be my guest.

    The government should insist on every visitor taking it together with a negative COVID test.

  27. Anonymous says:

    That for ALL 60+ who want it and not just on some voting list!

  28. Anonymous says:

    At 60+ make sure I get a jab so can go see family, sure as heck did not get anything else from Government for past year!

  29. Anonymous says:

    CNS – Is this correct?

    “However, all travellers entering the Cayman Islands must be able to show that they have received an approved vaccine against the virus before arrival, along with a negative results from a PCR test upon arrival. People meeting the conditions will be exempted from quarantine if they are staying in households where the other residents have also received a vaccine. They will then undergo further testing on day 5, 10 and 15 from the arrival date.”

    There is more testing for people with the vaccine than there is now?

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes but no mandatory quarantine for 14 days. It is a very prudent compromise.

      • Anonymous says:

        It’s ridicules……If you have had the vaccine why so many test?

        No tourists are going to do this?
        This is not open!

    • Anonymous says:

      1 in 20 people getting the vaccine do not develop immunity and can still get and transmit the virus. No one will know which arriving travelers might be carrying the virus. The government proposes to let that all vaccinated travelers in without quarantine including the 1 in 20 that could be infected so the best way to decrease the probability of community spread is to test every traveler over the 14 days of the viral incubation period in order to detect anyone from the 1 in 20 group that is infectious.

  30. Anonymous says:

    I’m asking the same question and why do I have to take a test upon arrival and show that I was vaccinated and people in my household need to be vaccinated too. Pure foolishness if you ask me.

    • Anonymous says:

      Simple. The vaccine is 95% effective. That means it does not prevent 5% of people from getting Covid. If you are one of the 1 in 20 that can arrive infected you need to protect your family. If they don’t want to be vaccinated you still have the option of quarantining for 14 days as a way to keep your family and the rest of the community safe.

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree!

      If I’m vaccinated but people in my house are not I for one will not be telling the government where I’m staying.

      Good luck monitoring everyone, Are they going to put a night time curfew on travellers and new arrivals.

      What a joke.

  31. Anonymous says:

    A tourist will need a vaccine. OK. No problem. They will need a negative covid test. OK. No problem. They will be tested days 5, 10 and 15. How much proof do you all need that we are covid free? Will everyone we come in contact with on holiday be doing the same?

    So, when is the island opening?

    • Anonymous says:

      I’m asking the same question and why do I have to take a test upon arrival and show that I was vaccinated and people in my household need to be vaccinated too. Pure foolishness if you ask me.

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree why are they needing even more testing after they have the vaccine?

      • Anonymous says:

        Because the vaccine does not work on 5% of people taking it so proof of vaccination alone means 1 in 20 people coming in may be infected. Testing over the 14 day incubation period of the virus is how we detect those that are

    • Anonymous says:

      Pure madness!

    • Anonymous says:

      It’s not.

    • Anonymous says:

      How much proof do we need that they don’t have covid? We need absolute proof! As a person under 50 I won’t be in any of the early groups to be vaccinated here, but I have health conditions that make me very vulnerable if I were to catch covid. I do not want to be stood in a supermarket queue next to a US visitor who has covid. It could kill me. I think the island should remain closed until everyone on the island who wants a vaccine has received one. Until then, I will be scared for my life.

      • Anonymous says:

        And because you know you have vulnerability – YOU should wear an N95, socially distance and practice very good hygiene practices. Your health is YOUR responsibility – not everyone else’s responsibility. If you are in a high risk category – it is YOUR responsibility to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself.

      • Anonymous says:

        Stay in your cave then.

    • Anonymous says:

      What if one already had COVID and survived and is thriving?
      Before you say you can get covid twice, I’ll tell you- there is no scientific proof of that.

      • Anonymous says:

        If the vaccine is believed to provide enough immunity, then having recovered from Covid should be good enough too. Same concept.

      • Anonymous says:

        I don’t normally do this, but in this rare instance I will. YOU ARE AN IDIOT! There have been NUMEROUS verified instances of people contracting COVID-19 a second time. Do some research before putting your fingers on the keys.

        • Anonymous says:

          Aw come on, man……. us idiots have the right of free speech too!

        • Anonymous says:

          Not many cases of repeat infection have been proven, it is a very small percentage.
          In fact that percentage is much smaller than the percentage of the vaccine NOT working on someone!

          Do your research!

    • Anonymous says:

      9:47, December next year for Xmas.

  32. AF says:

    Folks fall on your knees and thank the good Lord that you have the privilege of living in these beloved Cayman Islands.

    • Anonymous says:

      Are you mad?

    • Anonymous says:

      30 downvotes at the time of my writing this….unbelievable, would you rather be in Jamaica.?

    • Anonymous says:

      Why? Because we have a dubious government pushing dubious science.
      I would suggest that you reevaluate your relationship with your God.
      The only God is truth.

    • Anonymous says:

      I don’t intensionally fall on my knees but I do fall occasionally. Friends help me up sometimes but the good Lord never is there.

      • Anonymous says:

        God is always there.. I’m doing very well financially which is not my measure of success but is many nonbelivers. He just keeps providing and you want to know the secret to get wealthy believe in God. You will find out what you want

  33. Anonymous says:

    Thought we had over 60000 vials

  34. Anonymous says:

    Jab me! I’m ready.

  35. Anonymous says:

    Why is the premier jumping the line? Not even the Royal Family (or our governor) is doing that.

    • Anonymous says:

      Publicity stunt or planning to travel – first Premier in Overseas Territories to receive vaccine etc. As an older person, would prefer and deserve to be in line before the Premier and these politicians for a change after this shit year!

    • Anonymous says:

      Maybe he wants to travel London, Monoco and have one of his dinner parties on us 🙂

    • Anonymous says:

      Let him have it. Make sure it is not placebo.

    • Anonymous says:

      Because like the Governor, they want to set a reassuring example which a large number need. As the Governor said, when his turn comes.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yeah, who say we ‘fraid. Get to the back of the line Premier

  36. Anonymous says:

    There’s a lot of fear-mongering about the vaccine all of it baseless unless you already have pre-existing allergies. I for one will take it when it is available to me. I doubt It will be available to my age group/health group for a while but I will gladly take it when I can and I encourage others to do so and not to listen to false information or ant-vaxer propaganda.

    • Anonymous says:

      You do realise that the only information available on the vaccine is information that has been released by the drug companies.

      • Anonymous says:

        You may dislike it but it is a fact … the only information available on the vaccine is information that has been released by the drug companies.

      • Anonymous says:

        You do realise that the national regulators and international bodies have been all over the trial data for themselves right? Trying to create yet another conspiracy with no evidence at all is idiotic.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yeah ok, but warp-speed trials come with shorter and smaller human trial study groups, fewer or no peer-reviewed studies, warp-speed counter-indications, a high degree of commercial incentive, political necessity, and human error. Let’s at least hope there are a few million more deserving ahead of us in line so that there is a better dataset before our doses arrive.

      • Anonymous says:

        How about tall humans. Shouldn’t they run a trial on them?

      • Say it like it is says:

        I like this term “warp speed”,it can be applied to all our M.P’s when voting for pay increases.

      • Anonymous says:

        the human trials have been massive, way larger than most trials, in order to speed up the process. Please stop talking rubbish.

    • McCarron McLaughlin says:

      Don’t forget to ask to see the vaccine “insert” the paper with fine print that nobody reads before signing the liability waiver when taking the mRNA vaccine.

    • Anonymous says:

      The vaccine is still experimental. If you wish to participate in the experiment, go ahead, but live the rest alone.

    • Anonymous says:

      Why are people not wanting the Covid19 vax being called anti vaxxers? I dont have a problem with other tried and tested vaccines, just this rushed and first of its kind mrna type one.

      And why do you people have to dramatize and twist everything? If we say that the Covid “pandemic” has been exagerrated, you hear that we think Covid is a hoax but its real and we’re not saying it isnt. And now because we dont trust ONE vaccine, we are anti vaxxers? Is that you only hear what you wany to hear?

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