70% of population has had first dose
(CNS): The government can now be confident that over the next four weeks or so the Cayman Islands will reach a basic level of herd immunity to COVID-19 as 70% of the estimated population has now had at least one dose of a vaccine and 60% have had both shots. Things now bode well for the country’s future protection from this 18-month long pandemic, as the vaccine supplies we have that are due to expire by the end of the month are now largely spoken for and new ones are expected in less than two weeks. On Thursday Public Health revealed that 45,195 people have now had at least one shot of the vaccine.
Due to the success of the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine over recent weeks, the Public Health Department said it expects the current batch of the Pfizer vaccines will all be administered within the coming days. With an another shipment of vaccines expected from the UK on 16 June, those needing a second dose after the completion of this supply will be given the shot from the new shipment. Dedicated clinics will be open on 17, 18 and 19 of June to enable everyone to get their second dose.
Meanwhile, there were no cases of COVID-19 among today’s 464 test results. There are currently just nine active cases of the virus among the travellers in quarantine and isolation with no on suffering coronavirus symptoms.
For more information on vaccines contact the HSA Communications team at
communications@hsa.ky
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Category: Health, Medical Health
So when we get to 80% some studies will recommend a third vaccine and we will end up at 0% “fully vaccinated” from 80% overnight.
Will need a booster and adapted vaccine for new variants every year
So we might as well open up and learn to deal with COVID because it sounds like it’s going to be around for years.
…. or not!
https://www.keyc.com/2021/06/04/covid-19-vaccine-booster-shot-may-not-be-needed/
A little back and forth from April
Anonymous says:
16/04/2021 at 7:03 pm
When the government formally commits I’ll commit. No date no shot.
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Anonymous says:
17/04/2021 at 9:31 am
So you are holding up the process. There is a trigger date, based on percentage of population taking the shot. That was set pretty much when the vaccination process started.
When you have no money in the bank, and you need new tires, do you choose the day you are going to buy the tires, or do you go the day you have enough money?
Pretty sure the trigger date to go buy the tires is decided the day you have enough money.
Go get the shot, let’s reach the trigger date.
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Anonymous says:
17/04/2021 at 3:54 pm
Sounds good but there were no firm commitments made. Will you be surprised if we get to the target and the goal posted is moved again? Nah, think I’ll wait and see what happens. Perhaps the government should change course and realize we are supposed to be a free country where we have rights. I’ve been given the opportunity to be vaccinated. What happens from here is my business and I take personal responsibility for that. I’m not holding anyone hostage, the government is and it’s high time people take note of that. In truth I fear the vaccine about as much as I fear the virus which is to say not much. I know the stats on both. The reaction to this virus and the amount of sheep that evidently will do anything the government says without question is far more worrisome to me.
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Well here we are. Goal reached, goal post moved. You were warned.
REOPEN, THEN !!!!!!!!!
lol
End the tyranny now!
Just open the borders for vaccinated travelers and have a robust testing program in place. Implement a solid penalty program for anyone caught with a fake vaccine cards. Something has to be done because the borders can’t be closed forever. Other British territories have come together and implemented opening plans for vaccinated travelers. Cayman is looking ridiculous… is there anyone behind the wheel!
chamber of commerce, cita should be hammering away at this pathetic government everyday…..
The importance of vaccinations for young people From CNN today
“A recent increase in Covid-19 hospitalizations among people ages 12 to 17 reinforces the importance of practicing prevention measures against the coronavirus and vaccination, according to a study released Friday in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The report looked at hospitalization data for 12- to- 17-year-olds from a large coronavirus surveillance network. It found 204 adolescents who were likely hospitalized primarily for Covid-19 between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2021. Nearly a third — 31.4% — were admitted to intensive care units and 4.9% required invasive mechanical ventilation. There were no associated deaths.
Hospitalization rates among young people from March 1, 2020 to April 24, 2021 peaked in the week ending Jan. 9 at 2.1 per 100,000, then lowered to 0.6 in the week ending March 13. Rates then rose again to 1.3 and 1.2 respectively for the weeks ending April 17 and April 24.
The trend contrasts with hospitalization rates among people age 65 and older – the group with the highest Covid-19 vaccination coverage. During that period, hospitalization rates stabilized for that older age group
Hospitalization rates for adolescents were lower than rates among adults, but exceeded those among children ages 5 to 11. The recent increase in hospitalization rates among people ages 12 to 17 might be related to more transmissible coronavirus variants, large numbers of children returning to school and other indoor activities, and changes in physical distancing, mask wearing and other prevention behaviors, researchers wrote. The Covid-19 vaccine made by Pfizer was authorized for use in people as young as 12 in May.”
i would not trust CNN as far as I could throw them.
So what’s the next coercion benchmark?
Governor said he didn’t believe in percentages – ideally it should be 100% but that might prove difficult lol. Going by his statement, sounds like we are going with a reduction to q for 5 days for vaccinated individuals, give that a month or 2 and see if we get any community transmission, then decide. Going to be months, folks. Interested to see if they have the political will to withdraw the tourist employee stipend in the meantime, as they said they would.
Now we have moved from incentive to compulsion. At least for expats. Caymanians – we have moved on from Whoppers and lottery tickets to getting to do some grinding at Caymas. Stay classy.
Wondering if they changed the prizes for getting the covid jabs to everyone who has had one? What a slap in the face to those of us who are vaccinated and didn’t hum and haw.
Hope they publish the names of the winners!
When are commercial flights going to restart? Getting to and from Cayman is a giant, expensive, nerve racking pain. $800 tickets from Miami, no connections with any airlines, quarantine for the already vaccinated, all adds up to an expensive 12+ hour flight from anywhere in the US but Miami, followed by pointless incarceration with multiple trips to town for pointless covid tests. At least the tests are free and all the travel and medical people couldn’t be nicer, but the whole thing is an ordeal. We spent about $15k this trip but won’t be back to spend more until we can fly commercial and no quarantine.
Thanks for coming anyway and see you soon!
CIG. Are you reading this?
They don’t business, they don’t pay for flights.
The PACT government is shameful. The island has reached 70% threshold of vaccinations (first dosage) and the government is signaling it will not open the borders until end of the year. The Premier’s statement about having to use the new census is laughable and disingenuous at best. The government allows to have the country represented by an education minister who refuses to get vaccinated which is against the official goals and policy of the government. What an educational example. Julianna should be fired in order to have the government send a coherent effective message. The premier is beholden to egotistical anti-vaxxers. The premier’s actions significantly limit personal freedom of movement and comes with a long-term economic cost.
Use science. Vaccinated people do not import COVID into Cayman.
12 US states are also over 70% – think of those numbers. I believe over 52% of the US population is vaccinated. The US Covid rate has dropped significantly with vaccinated people. In my state which had high numbers through out the whole pandemic have no cities or towns in the red zone any more.
Vaccines work!
and they still havent open the boarders
letting in all these people on a monthly basis but still cannot open makes no sense what so ever.
Kay Girl – Can we please get this right, “borders” is continually misspelt, but correcting it seems to have no affect.
“Effect” not “affect, in this context. Ironic that the spelling coach needs a grammar coach 🙈
I agree – dem snow boarders and every other boarder mus be ban
BORDER
Border
border
It can’t be that hard, LOL!
Talking about all these boarders within the borders makes me so bored that I’ll just smack myself in the face with a board if hear any more about boring boarders within these borders.
Need to chat Kay
We must face the sad fact that this government is destined to follow in the footsteps of our former government and continue side-stepping the issue of reopening the border. We should have learned by now that any indication of a date is simply a way to pacify us.
Regardless of how often we hear that our economy is strong and tourism businesses and workers are being supported by the government, the truth is tourism businesses can’t survive without tourists. In the long term, our economy will continue to suffer without tourism. If you are on FaceBook check out yesterday’s post from The Warf; it speaks volumes!
The silence of our leaders is unacceptable. We are told they are working on a plan to safely reopen. The governor asked us to give them time to work out the plan. This is not an issue that suddenly appeared after they were elected and formed the government. The reopening of the border has been at the forefront for the past 18 months.
Opening up the country means that there will be an uptick in the number of COVID cases, community spread and death. Caymanians and residents are not mature enough to accept that reality. And government is afraid of the resulting backlash. Catch 22 situation.
Staying closed will result in continued mental anguish, addictions, isolation, bankruptcy for many young Caymanians.
There is a cost for everything.
Fear is real. It is always easier to fall back to our comfort zone where we feel we are secure.
And in other news the UK has just announced that they have approved Pfizer for 12-15 year old’s…just in time for us to have run out of vaccines!
More are coming in a couple of weeks. Relax and encourage everyone eligible to get the jab when it is available.
No need to worry, it’s not going to happen yet – it needs to be approved by another committee and plus we are still vaccinating people in their 30s so it’s likely to be autumn at the earliest.
People seem to forget (ignore) that it was 70% FULLY vaccinated against that original strain that was thought to be close to herd immunity. The evidence is that with the Delta strain and only one shot the protection level is only 30% or less!
https://www.itv.com/news/2021-06-03/covid-pfizer-vaccine-produces-low-level-of-antibodies-against-delta-variant-study-shows
That’s why you need both shots – we should have 70% fully vaccinated by 30 June – give it two weeks after that for full effect and then open up to fully vaccinated people. At that point kids 12-15 will have started their vaccines (some have already)
The new leader was disappointed with Cayman remaining on the UK amber list which keeps the quarantine requirement in place for travelers from Cayman. But yet Cayman imposes the same quarantine requirements on vaccinated travelers and has no plans to change this. Isn’t it wonderful how he only wants it one way?
The borders are never going to open for the vaccinated. The so called leasers are now saying that the 70% mark doesn’t mean anything. This has been one big joke.
*leaders
*losers
If you get vaccinated after 65% of the population have already been vaccinated, are you a leader or a follower?
Right! And now good luck getting anymore of the hold outs. There is no more carrot to offer. It was 70% and then we can open up, travel with no quarantine – all back to normal. What will be the incentive this time?
No more carrot – time for the stick…
Now open the borders Panton! At this point Roy would have opened us to vaccinated individuals.
no he wouldn’t have…ppm wrote the book on spineless leadership.
Wayne has clearly read it.
He helped write it.
Just (today) medically approved for 12-15 year olds in the UK, although they haven’t decided whether to make it part of the vaccination program yet.
Pfizer has been approved for 12-16 year olds in the UK as of today so now there is no excuse for not offering it to that age group here.
Yes there is – it has to be approved by another committee first, then everyone over the age of 16 will have to be offered the vaccine before children can have it – we are currently jabbing the 30 – 35 cohort.
You appear to be confusing the UK with Cayman- in Cayman, we are not vaccinating by age cohort, and we are not subject to further committee approval (in fact, the government had indicated that it might well approve use for 12-16 on the basis of FDA approval if the process took too long in the UK). As such, the original poster was spot on: no reason at all that it can’t be offered now, vaccine supplies permitting.
In which case you should be paying for your own vaccines – why should U.K. taxpayers be funding jabs for your children who aren’t vulnerable when U.K. adults haven’t all been offered it yet?
Given Oxford AstraZeneca are now developing a revised vaccine to combat newer variants, in particular the South African variant which worries scientists the most, and Pfizer are also planning to do so, and the UK have agreed contracts to buy them, as a British expat here I really hope we are fortunate enough to get supplies later in the year. Having had two Pfizer early on would love a third booster and also an AstraZeneca course to boost the protection. On another note if the government are worried about opening borders to tourists, why not at least say that anyone vaccinated here with HSA card proof can travel off island and quarantine for say 3 days on returning? Thang seems a fair and balanced, safe policy to me.
Time for another round of excuses. According to my timeline listed in a previous CNS article – we should now be at moving the goal post to the next waiting excuse. That is, now we will be waiting for a few more vials for the the adults to bump this up to 85%. Now, if anyone is convinced that this is still about the virus and not about the vaccine, please read on.
The goal post will be moved once again after 85% is reached and then get your children in line because the 12-15 year olds are next. Again, the goal post will be moved to the under 12. Pfizer is working on the 6 month to under 12 group next.
Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.
More fear and power struggle instead of following science. Waiting to hear the next made up threshold.
Is that 70% of the total population or 70% of eligible people age 16+?
What % does the children 15 and under make up of our population?
That’s 70% of the total (estimated) population. ESO doesn’t keep statistics by those age groups, but according to their latest material (for 2019) 15% of the population is below 14, and 9% between 15 and 24. If you assume that the age spread in each group is even, that would give somewhere around 6% between 12 and 18, the current limit for vaccination and the new limit once the UK approval makes its way through.
So even if 100% of qualifying kids get it – and cant see how that is going to happen given we cant persuade the adults – that only gets us to 76%. No one is suggesting that the assumed 12% below 12 should get vaccinated , so the absolute max never gets above 88% even if – and its a huge if – we persuade all the adults currently refusing the vaccine (and their kids above 12) to get it.
The numbers game is complete BS, and the Governor knows that his suggestion we should aim for 100% is unachievable. We have the second highest rate of vaccination in the world behind Gibraltar, and we still aren’t open. The bottom line is that our politicians have a zero threshold for any Covid community transmission, and the only way to maintain that is quarantine. And because we dont have the resources to quarantine the number of people who normally travel here, the borders remain closed. Its that simple. SMH.
Jotnar – I HATE it but you are correct. Our politicians have a zero threshold for any Covid community transmission. Even if we had the resources to quarantine the number of people who normally travel here those people would not come because most can’t take enough time off from work to quarantine for 10 days BEFORE beginning vacation. Not to mention families with children under 12 that are not vaccinated putting those people in the 14 (really 15-16) day quarantine time frame. So the border remains closed until Covid is vanquished from the rest of the world? Heavens I hope not!
You are absolutely correct. I said this in the beginning. Cayman government expects 100% Covid 19 free. It’s kind of like expecting 0% yearly influenza. How well has that worked? 100% covid free will never happen in our lifetime.
Jotnar, you are right! They say otherwise but they are holding out for Covid to disappear worldwide instead of making a scientific based decision. Covid is NEVER going away…..not gonna happen!
~ They have no real population count…..using a 11-year-old census as an estimate.
~ They move the goal post every time we meet their arbitrarily defined goal.
~ They are running this island and it’s people into the ground.
We expect the full flight schedules to be announced today Wayne.
Close the isolation prisons now.
So when are we reopening?
Allow this post:
The people have chosen, what’s next, are we going up a level. The truth is there for all to see. Hint: This … started after the summit of the philanthropist, we are not God. What will happen, is what to be. If things are happening it’s no longer a theory but reality.
I think I got covid from reading whatever that gibberish was.
70% isn’t this the number when border is supposed to open?
So … what’s the new target for re-opening going to be?!
103% of the total exact population. After the census is complete.
Plus confirmation of life on Mars.
It is RIDICULOUS that every time a damn goal is met, the goal posts get pushed down the field.
Open the borders as promised.
Good news but we where already opening up on the 1st of August according to Cayman Airways.
Two flights a day from August 1st unless our own government airline is selling ghost flights as well!
Those are ghost flights
What they need those for? Can’t ghosts already fly?
Those are ghost flights. CAL has only released flight schedules up until July 2021.
Ghost flights, same schedule was posted for june a month ago
Two years ago no one ever heard of the term “ghost flights”. Now, oh yeah, that’s a ghost flight!
Yay. Doesn’t really change anything. Now Panton says there is no numberand states concern for variants and the amount of covid positive tests in Cayman travellers. It is the energizer bunny, just keeps goin on and on. Fear of constant variants is irrational, viruses constanly mutate, it is what they do. Look at HIV, no vaccine yet after 37 years mostly due to constant mutations changing its coating, but we are experiencing constant severe outbreaks which mandate panic response.
The very small proportion of travellers that test positive also do support fear response, due to there low incidence and fractional symptomatic in those positive.
One must question CIG’s approach as it really has been haphazard, random, inconsistent, and scientifically unsupported. Is there some other greater goal such as economic reset? I pose this suggestion as their actions are baffling.
Hurrah. We have reached the magical 70%. And it has made FA difference. Now we have the Governor saying that there is no magic number but 100% would be ideal ( although he admits that may be impossible (MAY! – hell we can’t even persuade the whole Cabinet to get vaccinated). So there is no magic number, just a vague longing for a 100%. And no plan. But never mind folks, we have achieved the primary goal, which is not to embarrass the Governor by not using all the vaccines he canoed out of the UK government before they expired. His job is done now.