West Bay clinic overwhelmed by vaccine seekers

| 21/01/2021 | 120 Comments
Cayman News Service
Queue for vaccine at the West Bay Clinic

(CNS): Dozens and dozens of West Bay residents converged on the small district clinic on Wednesday when it began offering the COVID-19 vaccine to those in the first category. According to various people who turned up for their shot at 8am when the clinic opened, staff were overwhelmed and disorganised. People were told to go home, as clinic staff said they would be closing the doors by 11:00am, triggering an angry backlash.

However, the vaccinations carried on for much longer and it seems that most people who stayed were eventually vaccinated, as the clinic staff began to organise themselves and manage the crowd.

But inquiries to the Health Service Authorities and Government Information Services about the situation have not yet been addressed. CNS has asked for comment on what happened and we have been told that some details about the schedule for next week were expected to be released Thursday, but by 7:00pm, there was no sign of that information.

Meanwhile, in the daily tally report, Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee reported that by 6:00pm Thursday, a total of 6,309 people had received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

There was just one positive COVID-19 case reported Thursday from a batch of 676 results. The positive case was in an asymptomatic traveller. There are currently 34 active cases of the virus among the 930 people in quarantine and isolation, eight of whom are showing symptoms of COVID-19


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  1. Cayman Corona Express says:

    Yes we can blame China for alot, but not one Chinese Pilot, Plane, vessel or Chinese official is directing this Covid 19 Orchestra and Russian roulette game here. When European Countries for example the Netherlands are blocking flights and passengers from the UK to rightly minimize the risk of this UK or SA deadly variant spreading. Why are we taking this enormous risk to keep visitors flowing into CAYMAN and for who’s convenience and what happens if it spreads knowing our limited hospitals or supplies to deal with such and event as you are quick to point out 7:17am To correct you the viral load is higher! What it appears is our idiotic leader and this UK Governor are hellbent on keeping this highly dangerous Covid 19 travel corridor open for the convenience of UK citizens no matter the outcome and risk to Cayman residents. As for you loyalist spin masters & virus deniers on here spouting deliberately false theories and selfish false propaganda and opinions which defy science and accept rest of the world safety practices. I cant say I am surprise colonial ideology and doctrine is still alive and well in Cayman. UK is in its 3 rd Lockdown because of the very same idiotic belief and behavior.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Re: new UK Variant is more deadlier
    If you have an increased transmission rate of the virus, you will have more cases. I know this may seem obvious, but if you have more cases, you have an increasing number of hospitalizations. In a situation where there is an overload of the healthcare system, you will have an increase in mortality, because the system is overloaded. (WHO, Van Kerkhove)

  3. Anonymous says:

    Blame China for this global tragedy. Insane that international investigation into the origins of this killer virus is not being investigated in Wuhan.

  4. Andy Cornbeef says:

    Damned Alden you and this Governor really trying hard to get us infected with these UK Flights! The News that this UK variant is even more dangerous is rather troubling considering this March Foolishness you keep Preaching. You push March and i can assure you wont have a May election or is that what you are hoping will transpire.

    • Anonymous says:

      This “UK” variant was known to be in the USA in early November so you should worry more about the flights coming in from Miami and all the private jet passengers you’re allowing in.

    • Anonymous says:

      You realize the same plane brings the vaccine, and without the passengers it wouldn’t be coming?

  5. Anonymous says:

    This new UK Variant is more deadlier WOW!Alden you and Roper really need to go!Trying hard to get us killed here in Cayman.

    • Anonymous says:

      And Dr. Fauci announced today that the Pfizer vaccine will have no impact on this new UK Variant.

      CNS: You gave no source for this, so we can discount it. Here’s CNBC yesterday: New data shows that the Covid-19 vaccines currently on the market may not be as effective in guarding against new, more contagious strains of the coronavirus, giving “all the more reason” to vaccinate people faster, White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Thursday.

    • Anonymous says:

      Fake news. Stop telling to scare people needlessly!

    • Anonymous says:

      Lack of education is not helping your worldview.

  6. Jimmy the Fingers says:

    The New UK Covid 19 variant is more deadly! Take a pause Cayman and understand exactly how high the risk we are being put at by this Governor and our so call Leader! They had better get this vaccine here if they want to continue to further flood this place with their economic and Covid 19 refugees!

  7. Anonymous says:

    Dr Fauci was ‘knocked out for 24 hours’ with chills, aches and fatigue after getting his second dose of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, media reports today.

    CNS: “Dr Fauci added that he was ‘not sick’ after the shot, clarifying that he had side effects of the shot, not COVID-19 or another illness” – Daily Mail.

    • Anonymous says:

      Covid “vaccines” prepare immune system to fight the real thing, which is Covid19, once it enters a body.

      What it is fighting after the inoculation if a person has no Covid19 in his body? No parts, dead or alive, of the covid virus is present in the solution.

      Chills, aches and fatigue are the signs of immune system at work. I understand the “vaccine” can’t make you sick with Covid19. If there’s no Covid19 in the “vaccine” and a body, then what causes chills, aches and fatigue? The way I understand it, only after the virus enters one’s body, the immune system trained to attack it, starts its work. Until then, there should be no chills, aches and fatigue.

      Can someone please explain this to me?

      • _||) says:

        The mRNA is translated in the cytosol of the cell without interacting with host DNA to produce viral proteins that your immune system will then fight.

        Vaccine make cell produce binding part of virus

        Virus make cell produce many whole viruses.

      • Anonymous says:

        I believe it is the mRNA that is temporarily causing your cells to produce the spike proteins (harmeless outer covering of the virus cells) .. this trains your immune system to latch on to and destroy these, and provides your protection from the virus.

        • Anonymous says:

          I understand that it produces the spike proteins to latch on a destroy WHEN COVID virus enters a body, because it recognizes the invader.

          What I don’t understand is what the immune system attacks after the vaccination if the invader is absent? Chills, aches, fatigue are the signs of immune system at work.

          • Anonymous says:

            The vaccine trains the body to recognise the spike proteins BEFORE covid attacks you, otherwise there is no point to a vaccine.

          • Anonymous says:

            If there is no organism with these specific spike proteins in your body, I.e. no invader, your body will not react.

      • Anonymous says:

        7:33 pm: the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use new technology that triggers an immune response to the Covid virus. These vaccinations mark a departure from the traditional routine of introducing a form of the virus into the body.

        As such, these wo vaccines are designed to “train” the body to respond if it does in future come into contact with the virus.

        As part of this “training”, some of us may experience symptoms similar to Covid, particularly after the second shot. This is a sign that the immune system responding—as it should—in some people.

        But this immune response can be expected to last a day or two at most. It will also be milder compared to the symptoms you may experience if you actually come into contact with the virus unprotected.

        • Anonymous says:

          I don’t buy this. If your soldiers are trained to attack a specific enemy, they won’t randomly attack anybody else just to make sure they are “fit to fight”.

    • Anonymous says:

      People get flu like symptoms after flu jab.

  8. Right ya so says:

    Yeah all you USA/UK/RoW armchair experts, your countries are all rolling the vaccine out soooo much better than a little island in the Caribbean! Get over yourself and be thankful we have almost immediate access to the damn thing!

    • Anonymous says:

      Um, we’re the ones actually making the vaccine, and then giving it to you. Not sure who you want to be mad at.

      • Right ya so says:

        @ 5:45pm and 1:05pm on 22/1 – my comment was directed at those complaining how poorly the roll out was here & other countries are doing a better job – I was pointing out how lucky we are to get the vaccine & roll it out as quickly as we have done & they should stop complaining. Get it?

    • Anonymous says:

      That’ll be the US vaccine you’ve been given by the UK. Gloating about vaccine rollout is not a classy look.

  9. ( ͡ ͡° ͜ ʖ ͡ ͡°) says:

    The vaccine’s potential to provide immunity depends on keeping the vaccine doses cold.

    Vaccines are fragile and demand strict temperature controls lest they spoil. And they spoil a lot. According to the World Health Organization, ‼️about half ‼️of the vaccines distributed around the world go to waste, in large part because of a failure to properly control storage temperatures.

    They lose effectiveness and their potency if they’re exposed to temperatures outside of the range that they’re supposed to be kept in.

    Vaccines have to go from factories to shipping facilities to trucks to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, and, eventually, into the arms of people — all while ‼️without budging from narrow, specific temperature ranges.‼️

    Even opening freezers repeatedly to move things in and out can harm vaccines stored inside. Every breach in temperature control degrades the vaccine, and every time the vaccine moves, the chances of this happening increase.

    Fragments of DNA and RNA in the vaccine are delicate. They can degrade quickly on their own, even at refrigerated temperatures. That’s why freezing them is so important for keeping them intact.

    As you can see temperature control of the vaccines iis crucially important. Who is the person(s) whose task is to monitor the temperature of the vaccines at all stages? There got to be a log of day/time/temperature records for each vial movement from freezer to a person’s arm.
    Otherwise, people could be injected with the spoiled vaccines.

    Every time a vial is open, the time must be recorded, for it must be used up within 2 hours. So if you are going to get vaccinated today or tomorrow, just ask for the temperature control log, to make sure the controls are in place and you are not being inoculated from a vial that was open more than 2 hr ago. Check date and time the vial was thawed out as well.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Is anyone really surprised? West Bay is always in a class by itself.

    • Anonymous says:

      You are truly ignorant to the facts. West Bay Health Centre happens to be the busiest of all the District Clinics. Our clients are Island wide and there is a reason for that, just like residents from over the Island flocked this Clinic for their COVID-19 jab.
      Perhaps if you are really interested in knowing some of the facts surrounding the issue, you should start probing Public Health, HSA and the Honourable Dr. John Lee himself. Firstly try getting an honest answer as to why the switch in administering the vaccine, Why cant people who received jab now have to wait for second shipment, to get their 2nd jab. I guess they had everything planned and under control.

    • ( ͡ ͡° ͜ ʖ ͡ ͡°) says:

      In Switzerland, five people between 84 and 92 years old have died after being vaccinated against coronavirus, incidents are not related to vaccinations and are due to concomitant diseases, according to Swiss pharmaceutical regulator Swissmedic.
      “Despite the chronological correlation with vaccination, there is no concrete evidence that vaccination was the cause of death,” the statement said. To date, Swissmedic has received a total of 42 reports of suspected adverse drug reactions due to vaccination.
      “Most of the reports (62%) were not serious and included mild reactions that are already known from clinical trials; 16 reports (38%) are classified as serious, and five reports are associated with death,” the regulator said in a statement.
      As noted with reference to the Federal Office of Public Health of the country, by January 21, almost 170 thousand people were vaccinated in Switzerland. As of 2019, the population of Switzerland is just over 8.57 million.

    • anon says:

      11.00am, a bit like our Civil Service.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Several people reporting side effects… Nobody will talk about it?

    • Anonymous says:

      It must be documented and submitted to Health Authorities and the Manufacturer.
      People with side effects might not be able to see a doctor right away due to symptoms, so a family member or a friend could documents everything and email or delivers in person to Health Authorities, asking them to sign the receipt. The person’s doctor must be also notified, who in turn must notify HSA.

      • Anonymous says:

        And you think the HSA is completely transparent and would actually tell the public? Like they have been so transparent about quarantine breaches and the origin of the cases in quarantine? LOL. The policy seems to only tell the cattle what you think will avoid stampeding the herd.

    • Anonymous says:

      I was wondering… 5,000+ vaccinated and zero side effects?

    • Anonymous says:

      I HaVe HaD nO sIDe eFfeCts anD my TyPiNg sKiLls sEEm tO hAvE iMpRoVeD.

  12. Anonymous says:

    It’s not like we haven’t had almost a year to plan for a vaccine rollout. Why isnt it a requirement that people are required to provide a simple letter from their doctor if the reason for your vaccine is for that, or a letter from your employer/govt to state that they are an essential employee. Why are you asking people to just show up – that’s just asking for the problems now being seen.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Are people being observed 15 min after the vaccination with resuscitating equipment nearby and EPI pens ready?

  14. Anonymous says:

    So you’ve been given these precious vaccines on the understanding that they will be used to protect the most vulnerable first, as they are being used in the UK? WHat happens if you now don’t get any more vaccines for a long term and the most vulnerable are still not protected?

    Are records even being kept of who’s been vaccinated? How are they going to know who’s had the vaccine when it comes to giving the second doses?

    • Anonymous says:

      I had three does already! No ‘rona for me baby!

      • Anonymous says:

        You must have since grown a second head then?

      • Anonymous says:

        Those are the three needles you shot yourself up with one night in Barkers. Easy to get confused when you are super high.

        • Anonymous says:

          If 50% of immune system boosters go bad after it was distributed from the manufacturer (according to WHO), having 3 shots just to make sure, may be a good idea. I am joking of course. Besides all 3 would be coming from the same carton.

    • Anonymous says:

      There should be an audit trail. Consent forms must be submitted with ID, and someone from public health has to vet and sign off on those. The ID ought to be a Cayman resident ID, you’d think, but it doesn’t seem to need to be. No exhaustive vetting is happening because it is assumed that our supplies will just keep coming. It’s a big assumption when you see that Pfizer has temporarily halted production, and is scaling back and deferring ordered vaccine doses to countries in states of unconstrained health emergency. Cayman should have been pretty far down the global priority list for vaccines – and if we’re talking global fairness and privilege, probably last in line.

      • Anonymous says:

        Cayman resident ID – what is that? I get that you can ask a WP holder for a copy of their passport and WP stamp, and a PR holder for their passport and PR stamp, but what do you ask for to prove someone who claims to be Caymanian is Caymanian?

      • Anonymous says:

        “global fairness & privilege” = gibberish.

        Just another smug virtue signalling kiddy-woke. Go and have a wonder-green-smoothie during your me-me-me yoga.

      • Anonymous says:

        That is what they are doing.

    • Anonymous says:

      Records are being kept.
      Having received my vaccine on Wednesday as an over 60, I would just like to thank the HSA staff and everyone involved. I think they are doing a tremendous job.

    • Anonymous says:

      I am one of those people who turned up
      At the West Bay clinic on the 21st which was Thursday. People started arriving shortly after 7am and the doors of the clinic opened at 8:30 to patients. The CoVid people stayed outside until the first ones were called just before nine. At that time only ‘over 70’s’ were being attended to. By then the line stretched nearly to the round about. If there was confusion or disorganization I missed it because I was one of the seniors who was efficiently taken care of and was on my way home before 9:20. Thanks to the staff of the West Bay Nurses Clinic including the security officer and the nurses who administered the vaccine.

      • Kman says:

        Thanks for the clarification and news about West Bay is often casted in a negative light. The staff at the WB Clinic are friendly, courteous and professional, my parents and my aunts/uncles who are elderly are very satisfied with the services and care they receive.

    • Say it like it is says:

      7.54am Not rocket science, they can just ask for your innoculation cert which will also evidence if you are due for your second shot.

  15. Anonymous says:

    A Similar situation at the George Town Hospital where a lonely “security guard” was answering medical questions and trying to do crowd control and by confusing everybody with his announcements. Hospital security showed up 2 hours late, around 9.00 while 100ndrets of people already waiting from 7.00 AM onwards. They did get organized by 10.00 AM.

  16. Anonymous says:

    Not helped by the people being turned away from the hospital on Wednesday. Why wasn’t it open all day for vaccinations? They announced mid morning that only over 70’s would get vaccinated.
    They had asked earlier if there were any police there. I saw grocery employees explaining they were essential. I heard 60 + year old saying they were entitled to stay.

    • Anonymous says:

      To be fair grocery employees probably have more contact with more members of the public than any other group (not to mention have to touch all the same things), healthcare workers aside, they are likely the most at risk group of both catching and spreading the virus. Makes sense to treat them as essential and get ’em jabbed!

      • Anonymous says:

        I agree but GT hospital were turning them away!! Only 300 shots a day as it’s only 1/2 a day & only yo the select few the hospital staff deem worthy. No wonder WB & NS were swamped!
        No timetable even issued yet for next week. SMH

  17. Anonymous says:

    I saw no familiar faces there yesterday, very disorganised. Staff seemed clueless and lack experience. Where are the staff that usually does the flu shot at the various locations? They are very knowledgeable and always willing to offer advice, they even assist in completing your forms.

    • Anonymous says:

      “No familiar faces”, says the out-of-touch xenophobe homebody (who can’t fill out their own flu consent form), presuming to serve as the facial recognition frontline gatekeeper for all 60k+ residents of Grand Cayman in 2021. Maybe if more of our residents had guest appearances on Judge Judy and Wheel of Fortune, you’d be able to recognize them? Lols.

      • Anonymous says:

        I think the familiar faces they are referring to are that of the staff and not the persons queuing for the vaccine.

  18. Anonymous says:

    why only one district per day for a 2-3 hours?
    this is a nonsense vaccination plan.

    • Anonymous says:

      they don’t understand anything about PLANNING LOL

    • Anonymous says:

      And why is GT closed during those days?!! Seriously, I’d have thought they’d pull anybody able to give a jab, to get it out before we have a superspreader event. It’s just a matter of time!

  19. As I saw It says:

    They weren’t all west bay residents. George Town etc, residents showed up as well. For example someone in the line said they were not in that age group (under 41) but “what the hell I might as well come today as I’m off” please also tell me why KX had all their staff just showed up? Ain’t like they all flying anywhere anytime too fast!

    So much HSA staff can do when the public isn’t really helping and following guidelines.

  20. Anonymous says:

    Northside clinic was really efficient and organized!

  21. McCarron McLaughlin says:

    People are actually taking a vaccine for a disease in which 99.8% of those under 70 easily survive. The vaccine has killed people! Anyone sees the absurdity?

    • Anonymous says:

      Sheeple do not understand your comment

    • Anonymous says:

      The vaccine hasn’t killed people. I thought you people with bad information would go away like Trump. While true there have been reported deaths from people receiving the vaccine you are being misleading. The vaccine was unrelated to those deaths after investigation. Keep in mind, older people are getting it first and some have health problems unrelated to Covid. Also, this “99.8%” figure is pulled straight from your own butt…

      The truth is there is a 1% mortality rate but if it was left unchecked, it would cause a large amount of death. Covid patients are tieing up hospitals and doctors and if too many people are infected at one time, the death rate would be much higher than 1%.

      There is also the impact of ‘long COVID’, an ongoing illness after contracting the coronavirus, which has been emerging as a “significant chronic burden” in the young and healthy or those who had a mild initial infection.

      When you get through the initial infection, even with mild symptoms, it can cause permanent damage to your body. It is worth your time to take advantage and get the vaccine here while it’s available. A lot of people here should appreciate how lucky we all have been through these dark times.

      • Ask what you can do for Cayman, not what’s in it for me. says:

        23 elderly people in a Norwegian care facility died after receiving the Pfizer vaccination. No conclusion yet on why they succumbed.

        Don’t go generalising about it hasn’t killed anyone but in my view news like this should not negatively influence your choice to take the vaccine. I’ll be taking it when it becomes available but certainly will abusing any lines to get it.

        CNS: (Reuters) Fact check: Discussion of deaths in elderly vaccine recipients in Norway lacks context

    • Anonymous says:

      CDC reports that 50% of hospitalized in USA are under 50. Those, like myself, that have lost dear friends, family, and colleagues in the last year, would strongly disagree with your jackass QAnon disinformation. Time’s up on this crap.

    • Anonymous says:

      Poor McCarron. I bet you are a trump supporter.

    • Anonymous says:

      Ahhh, but has it killed more than 1.2% of the people under 70 who took the vaccine?

  22. Anonymous says:

    #worldclass

  23. Ben Green says:

    They should implement an optional reservation system, would save much time and spare residents of the inconvenience of waiting for long hours.

    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly! There should be a reservation system that books you a certain day at a certain location. If you don’t have that reservation you don’t come get in the way! In that reservation, require name/age (must match ID at vaccination time) and then look over list ahead of time to ensure correct age group.

      • Anonymous says:

        It would take planning .. they are only able to allocate less than a handful of nurses to give the jab, with only about 6500 people vaccinated 2-3 weeks after the vaccine arrived.. how on earth do you expect them to administer appointments on top of that!

      • Anonymous says:

        Like they do in every other country?

  24. Anonymous says:

    Sorry to hear this. Bodden Town clinic on Monday was exemplary.

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