Vaccine take-up falls off again
(CNS): Following a spike in take-up of the COVID-19 vaccine last weekend, the numbers have been dipping again this week, with just 242 people getting their first shot over the last day. The rate has stalled again at 61% of the estimated population, with 39,493 adults having received a first shot while 52% have had both doses. On Thursday Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart added his voice to those urging people to get their first vaccine before it’s too late and the stocks begin to expire. Because of the spread of the latest new strains, he said he wanted to see at least 80% of people fully vaccinated before any wide-scale border openings.
McTaggart warned that government must tread carefully to avoid the pitfalls other countries have experienced, and pleaded with the public to get vaccinated over the course of the next few weeks.
“We cannot allow these vaccinations to go to waste while so many in the world cannot even get access to them,” he said at a press conference held by the opposition.
Anyone wanting to get the COVID-19 vaccine from Cayman’s existing stock must get their first dose by 9 June so they can ensure they get their second dose before the supplies expire on 30 June. Cayman still has more than 4,500 first doses available that will expire next month.
Meanwhile, there was just one new positive COVID-19 case among today’s test results. The traveller is asymptomatic and is one of 13 people in quarantine or isolation that have the coronavirus.
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Category: Health, Medical Health
We need to appreciate that the world had to develop this rush vaccine because of the ease of transmission, the amount of fatalities, and the global economical impact. As a result of rushing the vaccine, there will be a significant amount of people who are not willing to take it, as they are uncertain about the side effects in the future. There simply haven’t been enough time to determine minimal future side effects.
The mortality rate from this disease in Cayman is minimal. If it was high, we would have obtained 100 percent, yesterday. There is also no curfew or mandated face masks in public and so there is a high sense of normality in the country. Many of those people are hoping that those who take the vaccine will contribute to reduced transmission rate and that it will no longer be a threat as it is currently. This is the quagmire which we currently face.
Easy solution is offer a 2nd pension fund withdrawal for expats from those grossly underperforming overcharging pensions and Caymanians get a gift certificate. Problem solved and country can reopen
Drawing any benefits from CIG – you get a jab. Want a work permit from CIG – you get a jab. Job done… 80% hit and I can get the F off the island for a couple of weeks without having to quarantine for 10 days.
Cayman won’t open, so I will spend my money, earned from the US, in another home. Chase away the ex-pats and you housing values, land values and way of living will all decline. Choose wisely. Without the expats in education, fire, police and banking will sorely diminish the economy.
It happened in Bermuda
Open the borders and prove Darwinism and evolution to the Christians. Might take 6 months but nature will win.
Bring it. My help comes from God who made heaven and earth and…. your ungrateful, sorry ass.
Wake up dude. Life is school. Right now, you are failing.
Who made heaven and earth – which has good and bad contained within it, including the ability for the evolution of viruses like Covid. But also contains the clever scientists who can develop a vaccine to protect you from it, if you chose to take it. But apparently you are happy to suffer the one aspect of Gods creation without taking advantage of the other. You are a thirsty man in the desert God made not prepared to drink from the oasis he placed there also.
Why would anyone take the vaccine if our Government will not allow them any benefits? This is the stupidest thing I have ever seen! Omg! These politicians are morons. On steroids.
I would think a life free of side effects from covid is reward enough.
Umm, to protect yourself from a potentially deadly virus? And even if you believe that you aren’t vulnerable, to prevent yourself from transmitting it to someone who is?
The key for cayman when we have vaccinated everyone here and can open to tourists is 1) how we reliably confirm everyone entering has had two jabs of either Pfizer, astra (Oxford) or moderna, and not the Chinese/Russian vaccines for example, as these are proven to work brilliantly and have over 90 per cent protection rates, and 2) we can’t make people quarantine if negative test 72 hours before departure or it’s a pointless exercise. Residents of cayman going abroad and returning (who will be vacccinated as only vaccinated should be allowed on planes) should also not have to quarantine in re entry.
Fully vaccinated will have to use an approved verification app, and then we could use the $5 Abbott Labs BinixNOW to double check everyone with a Rapid Antigen test before breakfast…answers in 15 minutes, and a Navica app green cert every day of their vacation. We don’t need to overthink this. Fully vaccinated isn’t just least risk, it’s past the finish line. Yes, there will be social equality issues until rest of the world catches up, but 30% of USA and UK are ready for normal now. Hopsitalization data supports this answer.
Absolutely no excuse for not getting the vaccine if you have no medical issues preventing it. Realistically Cayman cannot open up to tourism until 80 – 90% of the population are vaccinated, and even then it may mean our healthcare systems are overwhelmed. It is inevitable we will get numerous cases and serious illnesses when we open.
The various studies in the UK, Israel, Italy today and many others show even one jab reduces chances of serious illness or hospitalisation by about 90%.
The bigger concern is the Indian variant – let’s see what the UK studies find in the next week or so but the biggest worry is that the Indian variant is more transmissible – the scientists seem confident that the vaccines work just as well against it.
For all countries therefore it is a race of jabs vs spread of new variants. In the uk, i THINK THE POLICY ANNOUNCED YESTEDAY OF SPEEDING UP JABS FOR OVER 18’S IN PEAK AREAS AND bringing forward SECOND JABS FOR OVER 50’S SHOULD HOPEFULLY prevent a rd wave – a 3rd wave would be catastrophic with deaths peaking at hundreds a day for a relatively brief period again and this would seriously stretch but probably not overwhelm the NHS.
The reason Cayman can’t open up until everyone is vaccinated however is that if the Indian strain (117.2) is moderately to dramatically more transmissible, which seems to be the case, then almost all countries are in a worse state than the UK…
Any country with an elderly population and low vaccination rates is a disaster waiting to happen. Japan Australia and New Zealand are obvious examples. The Olympics will surely be cancelled. Such countries will need to retain the most stringent border controls until they get their population fully vaccinated if they are to avoid an India style epidemic and all countries will get a third wave of cases and those with low vaccination rates will get a new wave of hospitalisation and deaths.
Most of Europe and possibly places like the USA where vaccination hesitancy is high are the most relevant to Cayman unless they can keep 117.2 at bay for a while, if we are to open our borders.
Some countries which appear to have high case rates despite vaccination rates comparable with the UK may already have 117.2 as the dominant strain I expect. Examples are the Seychelles, Dubai and Chile.
The vaccines we’re using, protect extremely well against the B.1.617.1+2 variants. Pfizer better than AZ, and both are light years better than the Covaxin or Sputnik V…here’s the non-peer reviewed study cited by FT that drew it’s conclusions from just 9 stored sera:
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.08.443253v1.full.pdf
The media uproar is traced back to one care home in Delhi, where 33 staff members who had been “fully vaccinated” with the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab tested positive for the B.1.617.2 strain, though none became worryingly ill. These 33 went home with headaches and were back at work a day later.
Require vaccination for all work permit grants and or renewals. Cannot believe this has not already been enacted. Don’t want the jab? Fine, go home or stay home.
This is a really bad idea.
How you figure that?
Like it or not, everyone is in this experiment. Those taking the vaccine are the test group, while those not are the control group. Open the borders as the population declined from 65000 to 59000 or so. 80% is unrealistic. There are antivaxxers.and uninformed that will refuse vaccines period. Let the test their beliefs.
ummm, except the population has been steadily growing since the borders were closed. Believe it or not, more people want into out bubble than want out, and people that understand the issues do not want you to burst it.
WHY is it a bad idea🤦🏻?
Because you are forcing people to go against their conscience.
Stop bullying for God’s sake.
Like a bloody playground thug.
Take your vaccine and leave others alone.
So gullible. SMDH.
We were among the first ones to take the free vaccine. Don’t worry about us.
Depends on where you’re from…
From what I’m seeing it won’t be until at least July 15. Sorry….My family has already gone on 1 vacation by then….with 2 more summer trips to follow. Get a move on Cayman if you want our tourism dollars like all the years in the past and open up the borders. We are in the planning stages now.
We don’t get your tourism dollars so your argument is not all that compelling. Good luck with your vacations though.
Water sport charters, restaurants, taxi rip-off fare, hotel/Airbnb, souvenir shops… okay. Stay over tourist are needed. No cruise shippers ever.
Those benefitting are overwhelmingly foreign. Not worth it for Caymanians.
Yeah, what we learned is that take away all the tourism and all you leave is a $40M hole in government finances, which is less than 1/20th of the two-year budgets we plan. Shift some things around, emphasise other earners, and the hole disappears. The only people making money off of your visits were the foreign owners of every restaurant and hotel you probably frequent. So the spell of your illusory “tourism dollars” has been broken. You’re still welcome to visit, but please don’t think you are keeping us in clothes. We discovered we are doing that by ourselves.
Deckers, Royal Palms, Calico’s Treasure Island, Eduardo’s, Copper Fall’s, Eagle. Rays, Dive Center etc. and how many more? How many Kirk’s are not open?
How many water sports companies took a big hit? Car rental companies? Hotel workers? Restaurants? It’s a trickle down effect and as your government said….staying closed is not sustainable.
Jamaicans, Canadians, Filipinos, South Africans …. NOT Caymanians. Spot why many Caymanians no longer give a damn? Caymanians have not been allowed to meaningfully participate in tourism for a generation. We are hardly going to get excited by more minimum wage opportunities for imported labor.
Haven’t you had a year to get all Caymanians trained for these jobs? These jobs should and could be filled by locals.
Staying closed is perfectly sustainable – especially while that keeps and maintains a safe bubble. We just need to change our business model. Many of those that have are actually doing quite well.
Then why the need to fly to Miami for medical needs or to shop? Why get your food, gas and other household supplies from other countries if you are perfectly sustainable with closed borders?
Should also be for required for any Caymanians wanting to work in people facing jobs eg. shops/restaurants/tourism
Thank you. Virus doesn’t look at passport.
Do you really not know or just don’t care that some people with underlining conditions like auto immune should not take it? I can not but I wish I could. I also wish everyone who can take do so but please don’t risk anyone’s life to make yourself feel good.
Hmm, you sure about that? I’ve got several auto immune conditions and was advised by my doctor to definitely get it as we’re at higher risk. Please check your sources for your own health.
Nice try 11:04!
Very very few persons are advised against getting the vaccine. Most people with autoimmune diseases are actually encouraged to get it as they’re high risk of bad outcomes if catch Covid.
If I have a medical reason for not taking it will you just kill me? Asking for a friend.
In the USA, 118,987,308 people, or 36% of the population are now fully vaccinated. In the UK, 17,669,379 people, or 33.5% That’s a lot. We should re-examine the growing body of data and roll out the carpet to all folks two weeks plus past second dose of Pfizer or Moderna. Their Covid-19 experience is effectively over, save for the latent policy absurdities that remain in force. Is there any credible data that suggests the opposite? If so, please cite it. I can’t find any. Being fully-vaccinated isn’t just the carrot…it’s the finish line.
Read Cayman tripadvisor. People are choosing other destinations now that Cayman has not set a date. 🙁
Oh well
All these so-called naturalists thinking getting a virus that mutated to jump from bats to humans and that has mutated several more times, or potentially made in a lab, is somehow more natural than a vaccine that urges your body to produce its natural defense to disease…
You had me until made in a lab. Yeah, no. Glad you’re vaccinated though.
Their thinking, not mine…
OP thinks vaccination science is still in the Jenner era. Honestly thinks that all his other jabs weren’t manufactured vin a lab!
We still have a lot of people out their that actually want to get vaccinated but we need to go out to the districts even if it is just one or two a day. Forcing people to have to go to the airport or Camana Bay is very difficult for a lot of the people that live and work in the outer districts.
Each MP needs to canvass their districts and find out who still wants the vaccine and arrange transport or have the HSA come out and vaccinate them..The clocking is ticking..
The government should make the taxi mafia work for the free cash.
So in the US they are saying that vaccinated people do not need to wear masks but here vaccinated people arriving have to quarantine for ten days. At this rate, it does not seem like we will get to 80% or even 70%. The UK is not going to authorize the jab for 12-15s before 9 June. So what is the plan? Many places are planning for an increase in tourism but we are keeping our borders closed indefinitely, held hostage by the misinformed minority that get their news from FB if at all. I mean some of these people actually believe that the vaccine will modify their genes or make them sterile – their ignorance is scary. And these are the people that we are basing our economic survival on. Some countries are sending people door to door to try to convince these people but I haven’t heard of the government doing anything other than the contest. And if they can’t be convinced then the borders should just be opened to vaccinated people with testing to mitigate any possible risks. Unless the plan is to stay closed for another two years while we wait for zero risk across the world. That would be a shame since those at risk of a negative outcome should already have been vaccinated.
The UK are vaccinating children from September.
Offer miles on CAL. It operates at a loss anyway. Might as well get some benefit out of it.
80% might as well be 150%. Need to announce an opening date and those who don’t want the vax can accept the risks. Its going to happen eventually. Get on with it.
The USA’s CDC is messaging to the world that the pandemic is now over for those fully-vaccinated with either Pfizer/Moderna. AA and BA have already adopted the VeriFLY app, and IATATravel Pass has rolled out to member airlines. 27 EU member states agreed a few days ago to standards for Digital Green Certificate App. Meanwhile, the NHS’s vaccine status feature goes live this coming Monday, 17 May in the NHS app, and is aimed at allowing England’s smartphone owners to show proof of vaccination at border control. Any update from our Governor’s office on Cayman’s inclusion in any of these initiatives?
Like Cayman, Canada remains months behind in mindset, still fantasising there is some phantom variant that can somehow outwit the protections of the better vaccines, despite mounting international hospital admissions datasets happily verifying the contrary. Yes, there may be some immediate travel discrimination, but it should be among gradings of proof, and vaccination type, not nationality.
The USA’s CDC is messaging to the planet that the pandemic is over for those fully-vaccinated with Pfizer/Moderna. The app comes next…and we need on this train.
Oops, sounds like HSA ran out of carrots.
I hope the US makes it mandatory to have the vaccine to enter.
That’ll do it!
Dream on, the USA would never do that.
I know, but it would be awesome if they did.
Really? If it only applied to non US citizens? They were perfectly prepared to deny entry to the whole of Europe before, so not sure commercial expediency counts, and only applying the bar against non US nationals would deal with the US civil liberties community band international law issue.
Never
Should make it mandatory to have a vaccine or your permit is revoked instantly (unless you have a note from the Chief Medical Officer). Same goes for anyone receiving the Stipend, this would raise the numbers to the threshold in short order.
The US should only be open to those whose borders are open and then step 2 to those who are vaccinated.
If we have 4,500 first does, we have 9,000 total does left to give.
We need to keep giving first doses even after the 9th as it is still very effective.
Getting approval soon from the UK for 12-15 would help as there must be 1,000+ in this category.
This is such a bad idea.
The June 30th date is approaching and based on what we are seeing young people are listening to the misinformation which was reinforced by our new Ministers that refused to take it until Panton strong-armed them (we all know who they are). Hundreds of perfectly good vaccines will be dumped when they expire June 30th. Then what? No more from the UK. The new government can’t make a decision and our lives, businesses and livelihoods are at stake. We can’t hide forever, move on and set a date please before everyone is on NAU.
The Cayman Islands were open for business and the Borders were wide open prior to the Covid-19 lockdown. The NAU assistance list was massive and growing with new additions daily. Poverty has been rising yearly in these islands. So my question is how will just “opening” the borders prevent that from occurring now or in the future?
It was the open borders and literal importation of thousands of poor people that have directly contributed to the burden on the NAU and the Caymanian people.
If the people up top could stand to be a little less greedy we wouldn’t have the “literal importation of thousands of poor people”, and thus, less of a burden on NAU. We have so many opportunities to provide for our people and remain competitive in the various economic pillars. Rather than prop up the everyday people by implementing social wealth building programs, they instead chose to bolster the pockets of those on higher rungs of the ladder.
As a quick example, think of all the duty concessions granted in the last 10 years. Millionaire developers genuinely want us to believe that without concessions these projects are infeasible? We (average Caymanians) are directly *subsidizing millionaire developers* to build multi-million dollar unit developments serving as a store of wealth for investors who could care less about the ramifications of such a project on the country and its people. Instead we need to be offering duty concessions to Caymanians trying to build their own house, and I don’t mean a paltry stamp duty waiver. Material concessions, just like the big boys get. When I save money, I have more money to spend HERE. When those duty concessions savings eventually get passed along to a condo investor from Toronto, where does that money end up?
You seem to have directed your outrage towards the wrong end of the spectrum.
So basically, You have to be Caymanian to claim ongoing assistance from the Needs Assessment Unit of the Cayman Islands. And be resident for a combined period of 8 months within the last 12 months period in order to be eligible to apply for assistance.
Wrong.
Wrong.
See item 2 on Pre-assessment form: Caymanian Passport and Proof of Caymanian Status:
http://nau.gov.ky/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/12926512.PDF
Myth Busted.
So how are people with PR getting the stipend?
They are not allowed to get it without definitive proof of CI Status, which oddly enough, is still a hurdle for many ghost Caymanians that still fail to register for continuance at 18 and fall through the cracks (pardon the pun).
Untrue. Many non Caymanians are receiving benefits. In addition, many of the Caymanians receiving benefits are themselves relatively recent imports.
Not a requirement to get assistance.
Keep the island closed for another and see what it looks like.
Paradise. Uncrowded, shifting upmarket, filled with opportunity.
yeah, right
we need to take legal action against cig for preventing freedom of travel(without quarantine) for vaccinated adults.
they have no plan for re-opening and no medical/science basis for the continuing restrictions.
we have vaccinated our most at risk…yound people will not die from this…what are we afraid of?…..young people getting a cold????
You are correct, sadly, by the number of dislikes, misinformation and/or irrational fear prevents objective thinking.
People have just changed their latest thing to be selfish about. Instead of “not in my backyard!”, we have “not in my body!”, which applies to both the vaccine and the virus. We also have our government officials paying attention only to bad news, and the UK dragging its heels on approving the Pfizer vaccine for teenagers, whose parents/schools could just force them to get it. We have to stay closed because of a new variant…we have to stay closed because we don’t want to be Bermuda…we have to stay closed because the United States is in bad shape…and of course, the new government knows that if its decisions don’t work out, they’ll be blamed by the Progressives, so they’ve already said ‘we’ll continue their approach’ and got them to walk into the trap of saying ‘good, our policy was right so you’re right to be continuing it’. Thus politically and officially, there’s a consensus to keep us locked in the summer heat for a second year in a row. They don’t even seem to understand that vaccinated locals just want to be able to leave and come back – most of us don’t care about when we see tourists here again. Either they don’t understand or businesses have demanded to keep us locked in so that all of our money goes to them – they already felt entitled to it before all this, why shouldn’t satisfying their profit needs extend to restricting our freedom of movement if necessary?
It’s like everything else here: special interests and technocrats make all the rules. Like someone dragging a piece of chalk all over the board while you’re strapped in your seat, the government doesn’t care what impact its policies are having on you because it’s the one making the policies. Screw your mental health, we don’t care that you’ve run out of everything you used to buy overseas or you’ve bought property and can’t get anything for it or you haven’t seen your family in years, we don’t care about how appallingly awful shipping things in is, we just don’t care about anything other than you getting vaccinated.
Quick show of hands: who believes if we reach 70-80% we’ll be allowed to leave and come back without quarantine? Who actually believes they won’t just change the goalposts again and keep us here until we start caterwauling on a daily basis, mental health professionals are reporting that thousands are suffering and the government is facing multiple law suits? Who believes they’re just going to finally come out and say ‘as promised, you can travel now, enjoy’?
If you don’t let any virus in, people have nothing to hurry to be protected against. If the vaccine doesn’t allow free travel in and out, again, people have nothing to hurry to be protected against. They took the obedient, hopeful section of the population for granted and are now offering prizes to the people causing the problem. They’re threatening us with the UK withdrawing supply. They’re refusing to take a hard step like pass legislation requiring permit holders to take it, even though as applicants they had to prove they were free of all sorts of things.
I know it’s hard but look at the track record. Do you really think they will give us our freedom back now that they have it safely locked away, without a fight? This Cayman Islands Government we all so know and love? Highly unlikely. Or they’ll give it back but on their terms – you’ll have letter days for CAL because ‘we appreciate it’s been a long wait, but we now have tens of thousands wanting to travel and the island can’t empty or nothing will work, so we’re going to let the essential workers leave and come back first, followed by the, and then by the, and then…and by the time they get to ‘you’, healthy, vaccinated, young or middle-aged person, already suffering the effects of forced confinement having done absolutely everything the government’s ever asked, the Stockholm syndrome will be complete.
We aren’t going ANYWHERE folks until we start messaging our new MPs on a daily basis ‘Morning! How’s the vaccine rate? Which neighbourhood are you visiting today? I’ll keep doing this until I can go to Best Buy btw. Check in on you around dinner time.’ That’s what it’s gonna take! I hope I’m proven wrong.
B. I. N. G. O.
I do not think we will reach 70-80% and like you, I believe they will move the goalposts yet again. There are no real incentives to get vaccinated. Without a plan why would any of the hold-outs step up and get vaccinated?
Where do we go from here? Looks like we are not going ANYWHERE anytime soon.
The results will be known at the end of this experiment. We all have a choice to make, to vacc or not to vacc. Cayman may be the only country in the world, where this should have been an easy decision.
The vaccination schedule is much better than it used to be in some districts but there is no way for people from North Side who work 6 days every week and who do not have their own car to get to town or East End or Bodden Town for the vaccine. Jay is now a Cabinet Member but it seems North Side is still ignored.
make a call to HSA, I bet they would sort you out
A lot of helpers and others want to get vaccinated but work from 7AM to 7 PM 6 days per week and live far from town to save money and have no transport. If government wants people in that situation to get vaccinated then they are going to need to provide vaccinations until at least 9 or 10PM or on Sunday afternoons and offer taxi or bus service. Otherwise there are thousands on this island who have no opportunity to get vaccinated.
Their employers would likely want their helpers vaccinated and surely would accommodate time and travel for them to get it.
Was thinking the same thing. Sounds like a made up complaint.
There are some truly evil people in this world and some of them have helpers they treat really really badly.
I helped a friends nanny get vaccinated – took her to the airport & babysat whilst she had both jabs. Not hard if you ask around, people/neighbours will help. Or the employer needs to take a 1/2 day vacation & take their employees. They are treated so badly!
Unfortunately too often employers don’t care about their helpers and treat them appallingly.
I employ a domestic helper and I did give her time off for her vaccine and a day off for side effects. This is the same as my employer gave me, so it shouldn’t be any different. But that’s wishful thinking. Some people on this island don’t think their helpers have any rights
Maybe CIG could plan a vaccination day as a public holiday. Show your vaccine card and get that day off work.
Some bosses not care – helper get sick or die – just get new one.
But you are somehow able to get to a supermarket and buy food, booze and household supplies , despite the working hours?
Supermarkets are open 7am to 11pm, 6 days per week and some smaller ones even on Sunday. So yes it is very different.
Provide vaccinations at the supermarkets.
I don’t doubt that there are a lot of helpers working 7am-7pm M-Sa, but how many also live far from town, also have no transport, also have an employer who is entirely unwilling to help them get vaccinated…let’s not be disingenuous and suggest that there are a significant number of them.
If this is truly a genuine issue you are dealing with, please email me and I will take time off work to drive you. I’m sure something can be arranged with your employer to get a couple hours of relief – maybe we can bring them back a fresh patty and cold Jupina from town.
The actual problem isn’t MPs or vaccination staff…it’s the permit holders that are disregarding their pastoral responsibilities and common business sense to safeguard their own vested imported labour force. Maybe we should be reporting those permit holders that are oppressing their employees and impeding our economic pillars to DCI/WORC, and penalise and/or retract their ability to take down permits going forward. These are the same heartless that lapse pension and short change employee health care. So many bad actors that need to be disqualified…PACT, please lead on this as a territorial imperative.
How about MPs visiting smaller businesses with lots of holdouts and talking to them about the vaccine? Part of the hesitancy is because several MPs themselves have only recently got it so perhaps they can speak about their conversion and reverse the hesitancy. Who else can we get out there to speak about it .. Miss Cayman, how about it?
My pool boy told me he was afraid of getting sterile and both he/his gf were not getting it! What about gardeners, construction sites, churches .. the clock is ticking.
I swear we are NEVER going to get to the required percentage to reopen. We will continue to have a small minority holding us hostage. So many have said it and it seems so simple. Set a date for the border to reopen and see how quickly those hold-outs will get the jab. It is completely and totally unrealistic to think we can keep the border closed indefinitely. And for those saying the border is open as long as those arriving quarantine; no, it isn’t “open.” Open means people can come and go without asking permission to travel or being forced to use only one airline in/out of Miami.
The required percentage now sits at 103%
and now includes iguanas
…….plus 875,567 turtles, a bucket of whelks and 91.45% of agoutis.
The agoutis are revolting.
Honestly, who cares if the border opens? So tired of waiting my family booked 3 holidays and not one was to Cayman.
Instead of offering prizes offer incentives like do away with quarantine for the fully vaccinated and you might get a stampede.
Oh noooo, you mean, no more rejoining the line each time to get my shot for a free cheese burger??? The travesty! 🙁
For more information, come get your free whopper here, or its too late! – https://m.facebook.com/BurgerKingCaymanIslands/photos/a.264178713693887/3679770118801379/?type=3&source=57&locale2=ro_RO&__tn__=EH-R
Question, If the vaccines were delivered from the UK from January through March and assuming they were all from different manufacturing lot shouldn’t the vaccines on the island be expiring over the period od June through August? Just Sayin…
Good question
The lots that were provided to us have a stated expiration date of end of June. It is what it is.
I understand the socalled “vaccines” in your bodies will be ineffective after 6 months… like.. smh … 🙂
CNS: Not true. they have been found to be effective for at least six months. They may well be effective for mush longer.
Thank you. In other words, whatever’s in your body is staying in your body. Whatever that is …
You mean your immune system? One would hope so!
Thats what my wife said. Then she got pregnant.
Just hold on – if we wait long enough they’ll be handing out flights and cars to take the vax
Expiration date is not based on when we received them…..it is based on production date.
Well I mean it was Wednesday when most people are at work and can’t go get their vaccine or drive someone else to the clinic to get it. Hopefully the weekend numbers will go up again.
I was going to go and get it but the hesitancy of our government to do so themselves, including our Deputy Premier, Minister Of Health, Minister of Tourism and Minister of Education made me think again. No way I’m taking it now.
I wouldn’t use that crew as a yardstick in making ANY decision in life.
You sound like a child who is willing to freeze off own ears to spite mom.
Remember, they took the vaccine, you didn’t. So… we have been given a lot of opportunities to take the vaccine, including incentives. It was done more than enough to get it. In fact, I don’t hear about anywhere else in the world where it happens. Correct me if I am wrong.
Can’t say later you have not been given a more than fair chance to vaccinate.
They took one does, lets see how many show up for dose # 2
You are the problem.
LOL did you consider their intelligence…OMG
What an ass!
If your decision for your health and wellness was based on them, you are need of a vaccine for something else.
Stop talking foolishness and go get your vaccine for yourself.
Vaccinate people when they land off flights. Despite what you read on the news it is not easy to get the vaccine abroad. Most people who have actually been living with this are going to be happy to get a vaccine. Its absurd that this isnt being done already.
So you’re saying vaccinate people who come here temporarily, using our own vaccine stock, so they can go back to their country once immunity kicks in? Because by the time visitors get 2 doses and effectiveness kicks in (about 5 weeks total between the two processes) most visitors are ready to go back home.
Or are you saying vaccinate returning residents?
Both, because if residing residents don’t want to take the vaccine, give it to those who want it rather than letting it go to waste.
Use it or lose it.
Which people are coming to cayman temporarily right now? There are no tourists. Caymanians coming back from university should have an opportunity, too, my sheltered friend.
First issue with your suggestion is that HSA claims persons are testing positive at end of quarantine. There is a required waiting period between recovering from Covid and getting vaccinated.
In many parts of the US it is actually very easy to get vaccines. Here in Texas, they’re already letting anyone 12+ get it and, with so many locations getting inventory, it’s quick and easy!
You’re not thinking real world here i am afraid. These vaccines are going to waste. Say we have 3/4 people testing positive on each flight, what about the other 100+ people on board? If they test positive, those 3/4 vaccines were wasted, but is that not far better than 100+ being wasted?
Why does anyone need to take an experimental vaccine when there is no risk of catching covid on the island? If the government announces that the borders will open on 1st July those vaccine shots will not go unused.
All world does and it’s working ,every new born is experimental,no one sure who is gonna be
Stop calling it “experimental”.Its no longer “experimental” as This vaccine will have full FDA approval this year. Experimental only means in the context of a clinical trial. These trials were cometed months ago…
Because we cannot remain in a situation where inflows are less then outflows for ever. There is a point where the Nanny state is no longer sustainable. We must at some point make the decision to reopen. Every person, on this rock, has been given the option to protect themselves from this virus. Most of the educated persons on Island have done so. Those that do not wish to be protected can stay at home, wear a mask, and hide under their sofa. Do not kid yourself, we will open, and you will be vulnerable do to your ignorance.
And the many who cannot take it will suffer your ignorance.
What great many are they? Tell us. Pregnant women – nope turns out they’re fine. Teenagers – nope turns out they’re fine. Who else can’t take it?
It is time to reopen Cayman! No later than July 1 2021
Anyone who is not vaccinated can sign a waiver that they refuse this life saving preventive measure and the rest of us can get on with our lives.
Human freedom of movement is the hallmark of a free and just world.
We can no longer allow the fear of the Virus impact us,once all responsible persons have done the right thing and got vaccinated.
The tyranny of the minority holding us hostage with their dragging of feet to get vaccinated is unacceptable and it must end now.
We open up and restore human freedoms for all Caymanians.
You completely right!!!!100%
I’m unvaccinated and I agree. Open up the borders, we are not afraid and have no desire to hold anyone back! Where do I sign my vaccination waiver?
How about no tyranny on either side?
What about the people who can’t take the vaccine that you’re putting at risk? Selfish b@$^@%*.
Not a full re-opening. If we were to trial the re-opening of borders to those demonstrating proof of two weeks past full vaccination course with either Pfizer or Moderna (with strongest effect against VOCs), and/or approved travel app, and maybe a 72hr pre-flight negative PCR and inbound arrival confirming test, I don’t think any of our unvaccinated would be in terrible danger, especially if unvaccinated readjusted to mask up in public, keep 6ft distance, wash hands, and remain mindful of their disadvantage. It’s an idea, anyway.
Please sign your health insurance waiver to pay all your costs yourself if you do get sick! My premiums are bad enough already, because of all the obese & diabetic people here.
I’m hoping that the UK approves the vaccine for 12-15 year olds soon. This may allow us to save these vaccines that are likely to go to waste.
My kids are ready to take their shots and I am supporting them. We are in this together and we have to what we need to whatever we can to achieve herd immunity and be able to travel and live normally again.
US has started vaccinating this age group so hopefully UK will follow suit quickly.
We’re only down to age 38 and above in the U.K. so it’s still a while till we’ll be giving it to children.
Wow! My 12 and 14 year old neighbors have had theirs this week.
Here’s one of them
So do you know that in order for us to get back to normal we need 70+%, so the ones who are getting vaccinated are the ones doing the lifting, you’re just sitting back waiting for everyone else…SELFISH is what you are!
I think you need to review your data if you have in fact ready anything that’s not on youtube or FB or FOX news, so frustrating!
The 2020 data supports your theory but the 2021 VOCs are taking down everyone at all ages with much higher hospitalisation rates, ICU admissions, and oxygen demands. It’s not a cold. Good news is that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines really work.
We need to get to the people that cannot get out to the clinics. We need to start thinking outside of the box.
How about going out to some of the major construction sites or some of the larger companies and offer the vaccine.
It would be a shame to waste these vaccines just because some people are unable to get time off to go get the vaccine.
My family of 5 – currently living overseas and finding the quarantine arrangements problematic for travel home – plans to come back in the summer. 4 of the 5 of us are vaccinated. Does anyone know if we will be counted in the stats, even though we had our vaccines elsewhere?
Simple- make it mandatory that any passenger wishing to get on any airline flying here within the coming year must have been vaccinated otherwise they will not be allowed on board.
If you listened to the PACT press conference, you will have heard that that is their plan. Only vaccinated passengers will be allowed. Those vaccinated in Cayman, will not have to quarantine, but those vaccinated elsewhere will have to for 5 days or something like that.
If you listened to the PACT press conference, you should have noted that they in fact have no plan.
And with a quarantine still listed as a protocol, who has time to go to cayman. Do you think everyone has that much time off from work? Most people travel for 7 days and then add a 5 day quarantine period- that would not work for most. If one is vaccinated there should be NO quarantine.
52% fully vaccinated and 28% to go to get to 80% totally vaccinated.
Hopefully the UK will approve giving the vaccine to 12-15 year olds the way the US, Canada, and a growing number of countries are doing.
Or you could just buy your own?
Set up a convenient way for people to get taxis to and from the nearest vaccination site evenings and weekends when the poor working people of this country have a chance to get vaccinated. We don’t all have cars to take us to get the vaccine and we don’t all work bankers hours.
The vaccine schedule is here https://www.hsa.ky/public-health/coronavirus/
They are doing regular evening sessions, at the airport and at Camana Bay – they also have the vaccine team going to the districts on certain days – what more can they do other than march inside people houses and stick the needle in their arms? People have real fear/concerns caused by disinformation and outright lies – we need to combat that to get the vaccine uptake back on track.
The reluctance of certain Ministers/community leaders hasn’t helped and some churches also are failing to tackle false information (indeed they repeat some of the falsehoods!).
Stop messing around and set the opening date. You are pandering to those who have an interest in keeping us closed. Take control, set the date and watch them roll in.
‘If you don’t get vaccinated things will just have to stay as they are’
‘Fantastic, I like it just the way it is. I’ll pass on the vaccine.
Moronic.
The Caymanian people have a clear interest in keeping the borders closed. As long as their interests are the most important, the borders should remain closed.
By the way, you can come. You just have to quarantine. That keeps us all safe, and our society open.
This ^^^ society isn’t open.
Many families are separated. Family members can’t pop down to Cayman to see their families as they simply don’t have two weeks leave to quarantine. This isn’t unique to Expats..
Caymanians need to get to the US for urgent medical care, the current restrictions leave them travelling alone and at great cost..
COVID is endemic now. We will live with it forever. Protect yourself and get the vaccine.
Exactly! Many Caymanians are suffering through family separations (kids can’t come home for short school breaks as quarantine uses up more than time off), people can’t go to doctors overseas and specialists that normally come the island for a few days at a time aren’t doing that. Opening the borders isn’t just about tourism.
Pandemic and public safety in the balance versus short school breaks.
This is NUTS.
I think you don’t understand the issue. Kids can’t come home for Easter or half term as the quarantine requirements consumes all or more of their leave.
I understand the issue very well. It is a major inconvenience not worth sacrificing human life over.
Clearly not. Seeing your kids is not an inconvenience.
There is no end. Its endemic. Take the vaccine and get on with living.
Sure. In a few months when more have been vaccinated and the newer strains are better understood.
Yes. It is in the interests of some to open the borders. I do not deny that. It is however in the overwhelming interests of the majority, at least for a few more months, to keep the borders closed. Bear in mind, the Indian variant of Covid is coming to a town near you. Ideally on the other side of our border.
When we understand the variants, and the effectiveness of our vaccines against them, we can make an educated decision to open up.
We are not yet there. Not today BoBo.
It’s too late.. its endemic and more variants will emerge over the next decade.
You know the best way to prevent variants?
Vaccination.
True. And quarantine. And tightly controlled borders. And discouragement of non-essential travel.
8.38am You can get most urgent medical care here now, but then you have to forego the shopping malls.
How ignorant and selfish
Not enough burgers apparently..
OMG 9:14 your comment made me LOL
Mobile vaccines need to happen and urgently. Get to the supermarkets and big businesses, the Gov admin building and immigration. People will take them if you make it easy.
The time is soon approaching to otherwise send these to another Caribbean island who might need them, to waste them will be the ultimate travesty.
Please people, please. Cayman kind means helping the entire community and world – get vaccinated!
Amen!
It couldn’t be any easier… clinics are being held until 7 pm most nights and all day Saturday at the airport, as well as evening clinics from 4-9 pm in camana bay, Bodden town/east end and west bay .
Bringing vaccines to construction sites is not a feasible possibility, as they ringed must be kept very cold and are only good for about 2hours once removed from the deep freeze.
Realistically, ANYONE who wants a vaccine has ample opportunity to get one—no excuses. Those who aren’t getting the vaccine are mostly superstitious people with false beliefs from rumor-mongers or are just uneducated/ignorant about science and are not going to take the vaccine if you deliver it to them in their own kitchen.
Use and air-conditioned bus to got to sites and have the people come into the bus to take their vaccines..No need to do it in the hot sun.
Can’t send them anywhere due to temp/transport issues. If they are not used here they will be dumped.
Come on Cayman. Get vaccinated. Even if you are pregnant/nursing/planning on getting pregnant. Just bloody do it.
And before you can truly help the world, you must love your self first! So … I love my self and respect natural herd immunity by not taking this gene therapy. Regards 😉
Fantastic, and when you get sick you can stay at home and not endanger the lives of our medical staff.
Gene therapy? You need actually read the proper websites instead of the conspiracy ones. If you don’t want it, don’t get it. But don’t sprout lies, false information and fake news.
Arsenic and Plutonium are natural that doesn’t mean I want them in my body. If we left everything to nature life expectancy would be about 30, and half of all children would die before 18.
OMG this is HILARIOUS