Bills for work permit vaccine mandates rolled out

| 25/09/2021 | 179 Comments
Premier Wayne Panton at Thursday’s press briefing

(CNS): Government has released two bills that will pave the way for the introduction of mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirements for work permit holders and some residents in the Cayman Islands. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson has also said that COVID-19 vaccine mandates will soon be introduced for new civil service employees and that discussions are underway on requiring them for existing public sector front-line workers.

Premier Wayne Panton revealed plans to require new and renewing permit holders to be vaccinated some time ago but it took longer than expected to draft the legislation, which is now available for public review. However, mandating vaccines for residents and locals is likely to prove more controversial.

​The premier, using his powers provided for under section 11 of the Cayman Islands Constitution (Amendment) Order 2020, cut the constitutionally required public consultation period from 28 to 10 days, as the amendments are part of urgent measures to protect the community from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and aid in the economic recovery of the Cayman Islands.

The bills require anyone applying for the grant or renewal of a work permit or for extended residency under the laws, including those eligible to apply for permanent residency, to provide documented evidence that they have either completed an approved COVID-19 vaccine course or pledge their willingness to undertake an approved vaccination course and comply with other instructions given by the medical officer of health within a specific period.

Deputy Premier Chris Saunders, the minister responsible for border control and labour, said, “The PACT Government remains steadfast in its commitment to keep the health and safety of our people and residents at the forefront of all policy decisions relating to the reopening of our borders. 

“A critical aspect of keeping our people healthy is ensuring that a high percentage of our population is vaccinated against COVID-19. As we see the deadly and overwhelming havoc that COVID outbreaks have had, and are currently having, on neighbouring countries in the region and on fellow UK Overseas Territories, it is important that we act swiftly in taking every precaution to protect our community.”

At Thursday’s press briefing, DG Manderson spoke about a possible mandate for front-line public sector workers or new local recruits to the civil service, which may prove to be far more controversial.

He said that according to the last survey of civil servants several months ago, the vaccination rate was at 70% and he accepted that this figure was not “a world class rate” and the civil service needed to do better, especially when at some statuary authorities, such as Cayman Airways, staff were 100% vaccinated. He said the civil service should have the highest vaccination rate on the island.

Some civil servants have said that they do not want to be vaccinated while others are worried about working alongside people who are not, especially those on the front line, Manderson said. He also noted that some Travel Cayman staff and border control officers are not vaccinated, putting them at direct risk.

He said another survey is now underway and civil service management has been engaging staff in Zoom calls. Front-line workers are aware that this mandate is under consideration and he has pledged to meet and talk with them before it is rolled out, the DG added.

There is a growing demand from the community for teachers to be vaccinated, a sentiment that was further fuelled by the outbreak at the George Town Primary. But the civil service boss will face some challenges, given that some people object to the vaccination for health reasons or on religious grounds, and other by fear based on misinformation.

See the bills in the CNS Library.

Submit feedback for consideration by emailing BCLPolicy@gov.ky

See the full press conference below, set to begin with the DG’s contribution.


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Category: Health, Medical Health, Policy, Politics

Comments (179)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    “Among the unvaccinated, the virus travels unhindered on a highway with multiple off-ramps and refueling stations. In the vaccinated, it gets lost in a maze of dead-end streets and cul-de-sacs. Every so often, it pieces together an escape route, but in most scenarios, it finds itself cut off, and its journey ends. It can go no further.”
    The Atlantic, Sept 23 2021
    https://tinyurl.com/3nsdk3na
    Aren’t you glad you or your kids don’t have polio, measles, mumps, rubella, or smallpox?
    Just please get vaccinated so we can all get on with something resembling the pre-covid world.

    • Kurt Ma says:

      Hmmm – misinformation and exaggeration only bad if it’s anti-vaxx? If you want data from a proper scientific study:

      “double vaccinated people were less likely than unvaccinated people to test positive after coming into contact with someone who had COVID-19 (3.84% vs 7.23%)” (link: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/227713/coronavirus-infections-three-times-lower-double/)

    • Cory says:

      Polio vaccine was a dead cell vax. Your immune system is primed and it eradicated the virus.
      The covid vax isnt designed to do that you still carry a viral load and it does not kill off the virus. You simply become what 80 percent of the people who caught the first wave as asymptomatic. Remember that? Polio was a primed immune system that beat it. Funny how all a sudden a prev inf immune system suddenly is inadequate. Is there no end to contradictory proof with this?

  2. Anonymous says:

    Have details ever been received of the demographic breakdown of the takeup
    of the vaccine.
    Walking past the vaccination clinic at Camana over recent weeks makes it quite clear that ex-pats aren’t necessarily the group resistant to getting vaccinated.
    Whilst this makes good fodder for the usual ex-pat bashing on here, maybe those concerned should focus on closer to home. #justsaying

  3. Neverwannabeacivilservant says:

    If new civil servants will require to be vaccinated now is the time to have all new hires pay for their medical treatment. The excuse for Govt not charging existing employees is that it’s in their employment contract.

  4. Anonymous says:

    “This virus is not going away” is repeated over and over again on this forum by people who are simply not qualified. How do they know it isn’t going away? What do they think happened to Spanish flu? It mutated to a much weaker form. How do these people know this won’t do the same? That seems to be the consensus among experts. A reduction to endemic level and the body’s wonderful immune system making it affect us less. Is it not true that every pandemic in history has passed? No reason not to believe this one won’t either.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Just more fueling of a Caymanian and ex pat rift, likely to cause civil unrest and violence shortly if this carries on. Good job we have the Cayman Regiment on standby.

  6. Anonymous says:

    People are becoming depressed by not being able see their families, take vacation, take a break from this bubble. It was all good and well being in lockdown last year to have some sort of normality, but when the rest of the world are now getting on with their lives, it’s becoming an outdated country. People are worried about lockdown… wake up… we are already in lockdown!

    COVID isn’t going anywhere and we have to learn to live with it. If you are vaccinated, well done for protecting yourself and doing your bit for society.

    If you’re not vaccinated, no one is forcing you, but there will be many restrictions globally that will prevent you from your freedom, like travel and work. Would you wear mosquito spray to protect yourself from bites? It won’t guarantee you won’t get bitten, but it will sure help.

    There are many people in this world who would give their right arm to be privileged enough to get the vaccine FOR FREE! Wake up Cayman and open up the borders. We need to learn to live with it. Delaying the reopening by 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 2 years will not help. We are going to get COVID so let’s be safe and resume our lives. Mental health needs to be considered on a greater scale here.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Quick poll:
    – Thumbs up if you want to open up now
    – Thumbs down if you want to stay closed until year end

    • Anonymous says:

      There is not going to be any magic bullet come the end of the year. Why prolong the suffering and open at high season when we can open now and slowly get used to the new normal.

      • Anonymous says:

        They will not open up because they’ve already force people to cancel bookings for December. So they have no intention of opening up this year.

      • Anonymous says:

        Two important things should happen between now and the end of the year: The Pfizer vaccine should get approved for children between 5 and 11 and booster vaccines will become available for those with compromised immune systems and those over 50. This isn’t a magic bullet, but it’s important.

    • Pete says:

      gee you got 150 votes for out of a population of what 60,000. means nothing.

      i do support opening up but we all got to play our part including those coming into the country (if you are covid positive you should not be on the flight), those in quarantine etc

      • Anonymous says:

        Quarantine and opening up are mutually exclusive. You can’t have both…

        Pick one and move on

      • Anonymous says:

        No it’s 157 out of 198 (as of 5pm, 28 Sep)

        So I get to c. 80% of respondents are in favor of opening.

        That’s how polls work. They sample a small slice and then make assumptions about a broader population.

        I’m not sure how representative CNS readership is of the Caymanian population at large. I’d imagine it’s fairly evenly representative no?

        Most people I talk to are pretty pissed off about this plan to remain shut, but maybe I live in a bubble. Hence the poll to see if I’m far off…

        • Pete says:

          anon 501 given the low turnout of votes it cannot be considered as representative of the population. thats how polls work

          • Mike G says:

            Pete, that’s not my understanding of how polls work. It has nothing to do with the number of the votes cast as a portion of the population (which you define as turnout)

            Rather, the margin of error in a sample = 1 divided by the square root of the number of people in the sample. In this case it would be 1/15 or c. 6.5% (223 square root = 15.2 and 1/15.2 is 6.5%.

            Therefore, if 188 out of 231 are in favour of reopening it would be 81.5% +/- 6.5%. So the lower bound would be 75% and the upper 88%. This is true 95 times out of a hundred (95% confidence interval or 2 standard deviations)

            This is why I asked about CNS readership. To see if it is biased in somewhat (e.g. positively skewed ex-pat?). I would think it would be 50/50 or even more towards Caymanians. Who would be more inclined to read local news?

            Anyhow here is the link if you want you want a 101 on polls and stats: https://www.robertniles.com/stats/margin.shtml

            Let me know if you think my math is off?

  8. Anonymous says:

    As I read this I thought, this will be the standard even for visitors to most countries..The United States, which is the place where probably 90% of us travel for vacation or business. this Virus is not going away and every country will be doing whatever it takes to suppress it.

    https://bb.usembassy.gov/new-vaccine-requirement-for-international-travelers-to-the-united-states/

  9. smh says:

    All you commenters along with Panton who want to pressure or force people to take a vaccine they don’t want to take, will have to ANSWER to God for loss of life or serious adverse reactions from the vaccines! And you false ministers are the worse!

    • Anonymous says:

      where are these serious adverse reactions you speak of? There has been billons of vaccines administered your spewing of total BS is exhausting!

      • Anonymous says:

        They’re on YouTube, the repository for all real pandemic knowledge. Well – YouTube and Tucker Carlson that is.

      • Anonymous says:

        Age-adjusted all cause mortality in the UK over the past 3 months has been running HIGHER in the vaccinated than unvaccinated. Just like the the Pfizer and Moderna trials…

        • Anonymous says:

          Source?

        • Anonymous says:

          can you explain what this means in laypersons terms?

        • Anonymous says:

          “ALL cause mortality” A-L-L cause. Look at the stats for Covid-19 cause mortality and stop scare-mongering.

        • Anonymous says:

          All cause mortality figures have nothing to do with COVID.

          Around 90% of people in UK over 65 have had the vaacine. So over 90% of those most likely to die from old age, etc have been vaccinated.

          It is the equivalent of saying that now 99% of all cause mortatilies in the UK, once held a drivers licence.

          so beware of getting a drivers licence

          It’s just nonsense

          • Anonymous says:

            That is incorrect as the ACM number simply states:
            What is the number (or rate of) deaths in a certain time frame. If the corona virus was wiping us humans from the surface of the planet then the ACM death rate would be significantly higher.

            • Anonymous says:

              Who said it was wiping humans from the face of the earth? No. But it is killing hundred and hundreds of thousands.

        • Anonymous says:

          Where are you getting your “numbers” from

        • Anonymous says:

          Thats because the UK prioritised vaccinating the person’s most at risk, I.e. the ones with other medical conditions,and with the highest likelihood of dying from other conditions.

          You are using confirmation bias to distort the reality of things, and foster a false narrative. Please stop.

      • They are documented on the CDC website if you care to look , only a small percentage of them. Maybe it is time for you to get informed ,instead of you spewing forth BS !!

        CNS: Unverified reports of vaccine side effects in VAERS aren’t the smoking guns portrayed by right-wing media outlets

        (For the person who thinks this is a CNS comment, it’s the title of an article linked to that article. You should really read it.)

    • Anonymous says:

      Answer to the One who let hundreds of thousands die of the infection in the first place? Yeah, I know: who knows the mysteries of God?

      • Anonymous says:

        It boggles my mind how they don’t see the irony. Zero logic.

      • Anonymous says:

        God can answer to us why he lets so many die in so many cruel ways? Why does he permit childhood cancer, or fatal accidents that take parents away from young families?
        If, as you think, he is omnipotent, then all of those evils that beset us daily are his doing, and he should be held accountable for them.
        No God who does this amount of evil deserves my respect.

        • Alas ! says:

          Your choice to curse God and not pass this test of life. 🙏🏽 Nobody to blame but your self.

        • Anonymous says:

          Since you probably do not believe in God anyway, then you must agree that life itself is the root of the problem of suffering. But you cling to life: is life inherently evil?

      • Anonymous says:

        Millions, not hundreds of thousands. God will punish me for enforcing a vaccine on people that may stop them from dying from a virus that I allowed to/caused to exist, even though I also allowed.caused the scientist to develop the vaccine. We are not talking about complex thinking here. The nicities of smulatanelouls offering the free will defence to why bad things happen unde rthe watch of a benevolent God, and advancing the thesis of a vengeful God who will punish interventionist behaviour with his creation is beyond them.

    • Anonymous says:

      “Answer to God”? Intense much.

    • Anonymous says:

      No one is being forced to take a vaccine. You have choices..I’m sorry, I am here on work permit and took my jabs as soon as they were available to me. I didn’t take them because I thought that it would be a requirement for my work permit but for my own health and for those that surround me.

      How can I or anyone else on a work permit that wants to enter or live in the Cayman Islands decide that the laws don’t apply to us or that we should have a bly? There were certain conditions attached to my work permit and I had a choice to accept them or to not come here. I made my choice and I absolutely love it here. If you are here on a work permit, please remember that just like when you visit or work in any other country you must abide by their laws.

      • AnonymousX says:

        You are a well off local. Stop posting junk here. Many wirk permit holders come from very low income countries. They are here to make ends meet and feed their families. To mandate a controversial vaccine on them in exchange for working here, is no less than being COLD, UNGODLY, AND INDIFFERENT. I am ashame my government has takeb that lousy position and no PM as far as I know, has not spoken out against it.

        • Anonymous says:

          How is it any more ungodly then the low wages and the treatment you receive? C.H.O.I.C.E.S

        • Anonymous says:

          I had to prove vaccination status for numerous other diseases, and be tested for others to get my permit. 1 more makes no difference.

        • Anonymous says:

          Suck it up and get vaccinated bobo!
          Choice is yours! Don’t like it – leave!

        • Pete says:

          anon 1131 if the science say those that are not vacinnated will endanger the lives of all around then aren’t you biting the hand that feeds you? you may have a right to make a living for your family but you dont have a right in determining how a country deals with COVID.

    • Anonymous says:

      @10:46pm LMAO….”Answer to God for loss of life” you say? So you really think everyone here is immortal and no one is “supposed” to die?! REALITY CHECK buddy people are going to die and you nor anyone else can stop it from happening so get used to it.

    • Anon says:

      Grow up

  10. Anonymous says:

    Whenever Govt wants to legislate there will be opposition to it. So let us give choice and those informed behave logically. Get vaxed,maintain distance use masks avoid crowds appropriate measures in schools as per existing policies prepare hospitals ready for eventualities. We will get our share and move on.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Let us deal with Covid similar to other respiratory viruses like flu such as swine flu or spanish flu.
    Offer vaccine – take it or not, preventive measures as cover your face (mask) maintain physical distance, coughing and sneezing to ur elbow away from people,isolate when sick and health system to prepare to manage. During this process some will get sick some die and let us move on. It is well known communicable diseases have no borders
    WHO always used to say closure of borders is not solution for communicable diseases. They emphasized it during swine flu in 2009. Why they changed their minds now and still doesnt help.
    As someone said natural immunity is also good although some fatalities may occur.

    • Anonymous says:

      “some will get sick some die”. Hmm. I wonder if you will be that nonchalant when it is someone you love that dies, Herbert Spencer.

      • Anonymous says:

        When we suggest vaccine people say no.when we say restrict nonvaxed people say human rights.people want full salaries. If we dont open borders we cant depend on current surplus forever.we dont want others to come here but we want to go to Miami.
        We need to be practical instead of criticising every step taken by govt without offering proper solutions.
        Govt cant pl every one.

    • Anonymous says:

      “Some will die”. . .ho hum.

  12. Anonymous says:

    According to science you are supposed to vaccinate during a disease down time, not during an outbreak. This will cause the virus to mutate, hence all the new variants.

    • Anonymous says:

      The virus mutates randomly all the time. Any that are resistant to the vaccine will tend to proliferate.

    • Anonymous says:

      Science – according to Facebook?

    • Anonymous says:

      Ignorance is not only bliss, it’s darn-right dangerous SARS-CoV-2 variants are NOT caused by vaccines and numerous Variants of Concern were detected PRIOR to the mass rollouts of vaccines, despite your uniformed suggestion to the contrary.

  13. Annie says:

    I don’t think they should force any Caymanian or permanent resident to take the jab. The anti vax crowd have already dug in their heels. Just set a date, and open up. Once they see some unvaccinated person they love getting ill they will come around. But we cannot wait forever in a bubble where they deny reality.

    • Anonymous says:

      I cannot see where anyone is being forced to take the vaccine. There are always choices. I think the word “force” is used but it should be clarified that you have a choice if you don’t take the vaccine. If you are on a work permit, you have choices. If you are a front line worker and decide not to get it, your employer will give you choices..

      We could be like France and just fire people. We are not doing that, although sometimes, I think that approach might be more effective particularly when it come to those working in health care.

      • Anonymous says:

        You can say it as many times as you like, just like all the others following rhetoric ….. people are being forced

  14. Free Cayman says:

    Most people have picked their tribe. Either tribe vaccination, or tribe no vaccination. So that those who choose not get vaccinated do so with full knowledge of the risk associated with that decision. Fine, their choice. But that minority should not hold back the inevitable. We have had nine months of availability for the vaccine. If people don’t want it, fine, but we must move forward with opening. They should not hold our country hostage. And our leaders should not cow down to them. This needs to end, and end now.

    • Anonymous says:

      Please try to remember that it is not those that choose to be unvaccinated that are “holding you hostage”. We have no power and have not asked this government to close any borders. The overwhelming majority of us who are unvaccinated have asked for the borders to be open for a while now.

      Do well and remember that.

      • Anonymous says:

        How do you know that the “overwhelming” majority of non-vaccinated residents what the government to open the borders fully. Please state the proof – or are you just speaking out of your rear end?

      • Anonymous says:

        Have you asked your doctor whether you should get the vaccination?

  15. Anonymous says:

    The United States has just announced that in November, no one will be allowed into that country unless they are vaccinated. If the unvaccinated want to get here after that they would be forced to travel either through London or Kingston. How long will it be before other countries start to do the same thing? How many of us that go to the United States for vacations,shopping and business trips etc are going to rise up against the USA and tell them that you must be allowed in unvaccinated because it is against your human rights or maybe some other conspiracy theory? I don’t think very many..

    We have to ask ourselves, are we able and capable of handling in mass outbreak of covid should it happen once we open the borders. If anyone believes that it is nothing more than a flu and that 99% of people survive, just wait until 2 or 3 people die. In Cayman, everybody knows everybody. It could be one of your parents, your brother or sister or lord forbid your only child..

    I am so sick of this covid situation being politicized. Last year we went through a lockdown in order to put us in a good place so that we could live with some sort of normalcy. We did it together with very few complaints. Now, it only took a few idiots talking foolishness about human rights to break quarantine and start community spread. It goes to show that without putting some stringent laws in place with serious consequences people cannot be trusted and will harm others either unintentionally or intentionally.

    This new ACT, I believe is very necessary. We have to use every tool in our toolbox to reduce the risk of this horrible virus killing our people and if the people coming here to work don’t want to be a part of that, then they have the choice to go somewhere else.

  16. Anonymous says:

    “He said that according to the last survey of civil servants several months ago, the vaccination rate was at 70% and he accepted that this figure was not “a world class rate” and the civil service needed to do better, especially when at some statuary authorities, such as Cayman Airways, staff were 100% vaccinated.”

    Ok…..first issue is you don’t SURVEY to see if persons are vaccinated. You have them submit copies of their vaccination card! Secondly, if vaccines aren’t mandated, those on the front line that refuse vaccination should be reassigned to different area of work.

    • Anonymous says:

      Agreed. Unvaccinated Civil Service people should have to pay for healthcare to cover the additional costs if they get sick or take a cut in pay to cover the costs.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Mandating for only new civil service indicates existing are already protected.
    Mandating for work permit holders only indicates caymanians are immune.wrong signals.
    Irrespective of locals or work permit holders unless vaxed shldnt work facing public.
    Unvaxed shold have limitations to access to closed public places like super markets bars and restaurents churches etc

    If existing unvaxed civil civil servants get covid CINico should not cover.
    See how Singapore Newzealand are managing and let us follow.

    • Anonymous says:

      Correct but this is cayman – no
      Plan or sensible covid policies throughout the pandemic so far

    • Anonymous says:

      New Zealand? You’ve got to be kidding.

    • Anonymous says:

      https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0730-mmwr-covid-19.html

      …CDC admits similarly high viral load of vaxxed and unvaxxed…

      So why should unvaxxed be the litmus test in each office? Why should unvaxxed be limited from anywhere vaxxed can go?

      Discrimination based on NO SCIENCE

      • Anonymous says:

        To protect themselves from the vaccinated.

      • Anonymous says:

        Where have you been? There’s loads of evidence supporting the viral load of vaxxed vs unvaxxed. And no, I’m not adding supporting links, look it up your damn self. SO SICK of the unvaxxed spewing nonsense!

      • Anonymous says:

        Sometimes you need to read the rest of the story and not just the piece meal that you want to use to justify your belief.

        https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/delta-variant.html

        “Unvaccinated people remain the greatest concern”

        “Fully vaccinated people with Delta variant breakthrough infections can spread the virus to others. However, vaccinated people appear to spread the virus for a shorter time”

        • Anonymous says:

          To say nothing of the relative fatality and hospitalisation statistics. I should be able to drink and drive because sober drivers can get hurt as well logic. Nuts. I suppose its natural for anti vaxers to try and deflect the criticism of their choices – no one likes to be thought selfish -so they grasp at straws.

  18. Anonymous says:

    What is the point? It’s not like we are ever going to be open. If we do no one is going to come. Remember BVI and Turks Hurricanes a few years ago? We benefited from. This is the reverse. Will take a decade to undo the damage.

    • Anonymous says:

      Defeatist rubbish with no supporting evidence whatsoever. When we open safely, they will come.

      • Disagree says:

        @ 1:01 pm – I respectfully disagree. We are definatly in the same situation as the islands devistatd by hurricanes in 2017. We gained from their unfortunate distruction. They are gaining from our continued closer. As a vacation rental owner I can honeslty tell you that I have at least 20 guests that have been coming to Cayman year after year who have found other destinations and have told me they do not know if they will return to Cayman in the future. They feel unwelcome and unwanted.

        • Anonymous says:

          All are welcome. We are not closed. People just need to be willing to quarantine.

        • Anonymous says:

          They all come back. Think about how many expats leave and how they say they’ll never need back, but one year later… Boom 🤣

    • Elvis says:

      Let us insist all Cinico customers are vaccinated against any covid related claims thatll set. Them running to the toilet roll isle again.
      Then again insist all govt contract workers get it too set the cat amongst the pigeons lol.

  19. Anonymous says:

    Ask yourselves this

    The drug companies say it is safe but yet are indemnified against legal action. Why won’t they stand behind their drug?

    Why is only the mrna being offered and not the more traditional ones available?

    The science says natural immunity is superior, why aren’t antibody tests being offered to determine if you even need a vaccine?

    The government PR is ‘follow the science’ but they don’t for quarantine or masks in primary schools?

    • Anonymous says:

      Pfizer has had full FDA approval for a month now. It’s not an EUA vaccine anymore. You are consuming and regurgitating false info, and you need to fact check yourself.

      https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-comirnatyr-receives-full

      • Anonymous says:

        Why the dislikes, it’s true it is now FDA approved. SMH

        • Anonymous says:

          Just one example.

          Nearly 8 million adults of all ages in the United States report balance disorders each year. Some after a trauma, some causes are neurological, some causes remain unknown.

          Vertigo and dizziness are common symptoms in the general population, with an estimated prevalence between 20% and 56%.

          YET there are NO medicine, treatments, research and it took FDA only 10, TEN!!!!!!! years to approve The Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS™) Device (which is approved for MS only). Now finding a doctor who knows about the device, let alone knows how to use it will take you another 10 years.

          Now that you are fully vaxxed with fully approved vaccine, pray you will never experience balance and or vestibular symptoms, because you won’t get speedy help.

          • Anonymous says:

            The FDA regulations regarding ne medical devices involve a completely different approval process.

            If you cannot see the difference between vertigo and a virus that has killed an estimated 10 million people and given around 200 million people permanent health problems and that in only 18 months.

            As someone who suffers from vertigo, I would much rather live with it than die alone on a respirator or being unable to perform any exercise for the rest of my life.

            But that is just me

          • Anonymous says:

            Already suffered from vertigo BEFORE my vaxx. But thanks

        • Anonymous says:

          FDA approved doesn’t mean scientifically proven. It means business deal made.

          • Anonymous says:

            No, it means scientifically proven.

            • Anonymous says:

              Okay let’s roll with that for a sec. Look what happened over the last couple weeks. The FDA didn’t approve the booster for anyone under 65. Why? In the words of one of the doctors on the FDA panel… we are killing two people to save one. XXXX

              CNS: Kansas City Star – NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week
              CLAIM: Experts with the Food and Drug Administration revealed that the COVID-19 vaccines are killing at least two people for every person they save.
              THE FACTS: FDA experts did not say this, and strongly refuted this false claim in an email to The Associated Press. A speaker who is not affiliated with the FDA made these statements during the open public hearing portion of a Sept. 17 FDA vaccine advisory panel meeting.
              Read more here

          • Anonymous says:

            Just like the earth is flat?

      • Anonymous says:

        What’s the FDA approval has to do with all above questions? Wonder if you are aware of so many recalled drugs years after FDA approved them? Educate yourself on the FDA’s approval process you might find yourself unpleasantly surprised.

        • Anonymous says:

          Ask yourself this question. When your doc diagnoses you with a illness and provides you a RX, what do you do?

          • Anonymous says:

            I have learnt to many times to look further

          • Anonymous says:

            I hate doctors, they know nothing. they have become appendages to diagnostic machines and lab results readers… When was the last time a doctor actually examined you? Listened to your heart and lungs, checked your lymph nodes, the color of your skin, looked into your throat and nose, examined your abdominals? What I know when I get home and start reading “the visit notes”, that he actually did all that, I just did not notice perhaps…in other words he completely skipped the examination, but according to his notes, he didn’t. Who would a judge to believe if I file a malpractice suit if he misses some serious health issues? There we go… Always have a friend or a family member with you.

            • Anonymous says:

              I am no fan of doctors, but to answer your question, the last time mine listened to my heart and lungs, examined my abdominals etc. was the last time I visited him, about 3 months ago, as he did during my previous examination. You need a new doctor!

        • Anonymous says:

          Educate yourself with how vaccines work! They don’t stay in your body. They do their job and they’re done unlike other meds that may build up over time as you take them day after day.

      • Anonymous says:

        FDA approval doesn’t mean much.

        One third of all FDA approved drugs from 2001 to 2010 had major safety issues after they were approved. 71% of 222 drugs approved in the first decade of the millennium were withdrawn, required a “black box” warning on side effects or warranted a safety announcement about new risks..

        It takes 4.2 years (median) after approval before safety issues come to light.

        Go read on NPR.org “One-third of new drugs had safety problems after FDA approval”

    • Anonymous says:

      True natural immunity is way superior, why everyone needs to be inoculated. This is one of the main reason for the suspicion and skepticism.
      However, if you are choosing to not get the vaccine and get infected with the virus, you should not go to the hospital for treatment.
      Are there other treatments that are available for home care?
      Also if choosing to not get the vaccine you should not have a normal life to -travel, attend public gatherings, eat in restaurants, drink in bars ,and all the other normal activities – as the vaccinated, as this was the main purpose to be vaccinated.
      If you are choosing to be unvaccinated, you are saying I do not want things to go back to normal and want things to change.
      The unvaccinated therefore, should be in isolation changing themselves first.
      The vaccine should not be forced on anyone, Wayne.

      • Anonymous says:

        Really?

        If you get into an auto accident while using your phone, texting, not wearing seatbelt, speeding, you should not go to a hospital- it is your own fault

        If you get high blood pressure and heart problems, for you love junk food, you should not go to a hospital- it is your own fault

        If you break your bones doing whatever, you should not go to a hospital- it is your own fault, should have stayed on your couch.

        If Catch anything other than COVID, stay at home, it is your own fault.

        If you get severe allergies from whatever, you should not go to a hospital- it is your own fault.

        • Anonymous says:

          Stay home if you not taking the vaccine and take care of your health to avoid
          – getting into accident
          – health issues
          – junk food
          – the hospitals
          – catching the virus, but if you do, you will avoid going to the hospital because your healthy.
          Let the vaccinated people get on with their lives and live with the virus.
          The virus is here for change to save the animals, the planet, and those amongst us who have compassion for other beings other than ourselves. Change appears impossible but inevitable.

    • Anonymous says:

      The science does not say that natural immunity offers better protection. On the contrary, if you listen to the top virologists, the vaccination provides more protection without the chance of death! And, you can get an antibody test any time you want — just ask your doctor.

      • Anonymous says:

        Not true. If you are a health care worker, you might be able to get the serology test. For the rest of us mooks, not so much. I have tried. I believed it possible that we had the virus running through the community in early 2020. NO serology tests for citizens.

  20. Anonymous says:

    Good luck getting the sky fairy/voodoo/obeah believers to take the jab. Their ‘religious leaders’ have got them well under the thumb. The rational ones amongst us will just have to suffer……wait for it……or we could just leave! Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out etc…etc…yawn..

    • Anonymous says:

      Tell me if anyone knows an expat from a developed country that intends to spend the rest of their life here?

      10-15 years ago there may have been a line of people ready to take the place of someone nursing a sore backside from the plane door slamming shut. Now, not so much.

      • Anonymous says:

        Are you kidding me..we have more expats here than Caymanians..and lets not go into how many permanent residents and status holders are now living here…

        Hundreds are getting permanent residency and status every year.

        • Anonymous says:

          10:38

          Go and ask an expat from a developed country if given the opportunity to retire here would they do so.

          Go ask a recruiter how easy it is to bring a professional from a developed country here to work compared to 10-15 years ago.

          But yes, we do import poverty from developing countries at an alarming rate and many will become status holders.

  21. Anonymous says:

    “He also noted that some Travel Cayman staff and border control officers are not vaccinated, putting them at direct risk.”

    Seriously Franz, all front line Travel Cayman staff should be vaccinated or at the very least consistently tested. These people are interacting every day with incoming flights and then go home to their families who likely aren’t vaccinated either. It is crazy to think that the very people that are interacting with passengers when they arrive on a flight are not vaccinated.

    • Anonymous says:

      Travel Cayman staff also visit the homes of quarantined travellers.

      • Anonymous says:

        6 have visited my residence to check on me already. Next time they knock I will ask to see their vaccination card before answering,

        • Anon says:

          I too have had many Travel Time staff bang on my hotel door to check on me whist I am in quarantine. When I ask “who is it?” they don’t respond and identify themselves. It is quite frightening for a woman alone and they should consider women’s safety. I will not answer the door anymore unless they identify themselves they can call me.

        • Anonymous says:

          I will do that with anyone that tries to come into my home

  22. Anonymous says:

    Kudos to the Cayman Airways staff for being 100% vaccinated!

    • Anonymous says:

      They are not

    • Anonymous says:

      As if they had a choice

    • Anonymous says:

      I don’t believe this is true unless it is just Grand Cayman because their is one very vocal anti-vaxxer Caymanian lady at the Cayman Airways counter in Miami. I avoid her every time after my medical checks. She isn’t doing Cayman any favors. The check in counter is not the place to espouse your negativity and anti-vax conspiracy theories particularly when there are people like me standing in line with a medical issue.

      • Anonymous says:

        Yep, I have become aware of her too..Very active with the anti-vaxxers on Facebook, as well. Not a good representation when you go to the counter in Miami.

        She was always a nice and bubbly person whenever I checked in but now she is just bitter with all this anti-vax foolishness. I try to avoid her line too. I don’t want to be overwhelmed with her pushing her agenda on me.

  23. Anonymous says:

    Finally, and I glad it is all encompassing not just strictly work permit holders.

    The USA will not allow any visitors in unless they are vaccinated as of November.

    Let’s keep out level of risk low. We all know that we can still catch covid if vaccinated but the risk of hospitalization and death is greatly reduced.

    Cayman does not have the healthcare infrastructure to handle mass hospitalizations.

  24. Anonymous says:

    For religious reasons?

    Jesus wept!

    If there’s a God/Gods/Lizard King, they’d want you to get vaccinated so you can keep carrying on with your important work here on earth.

    Ergo, if you don’t get it due to the R word, then maybe you’re not important in the bigger scheme of things.

  25. Will says:

    If you take a look at the success that India is having with Ivermectin and ask yourself why the WHO is trying to shut them down, XXXX

    CNS: This is typical of the blatant misinformation that gets people excited on social media, especially when they are brainwashed into believing that by swallowing this propaganda they are “thinking for themselves”. It’s madness. Please stay away from whatever BS sites you get your info from. India Today – Why HCQ and Ivermectin were removed from India’s Covid-19 treatment protocol.

    More info from the FDA – Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19

  26. Anonymous says:

    Weak is an understatement. How about totally and completely incompetent. Health Minister is worse than Jon Jon (if that was ever possible) and Tourism Minister is on the stop list. Nice team Wayne.

    • Anonymous says:

      But he would not have become Premier without offering these people cabinet positions. It has zero to do with experience or ability.

  27. Anonymous says:

    All well and good but if you are not opening and now have us in restrictions that mean I, for example as somebody who lives by myself, have to stay six feet away from EVERYBODY and wear a mask at all times, you can’t make anybody take the vaccine. We all behaved for the last 18 months to have been taken 50 steps back with no reopening in sight !

  28. Anonymous says:

    In regards to the home testing kits that the Premier talked about during last press briefing – how many of those who find themselves positive by home test kit, but are asymptomatic, would come forward to inform their employers – given that they would have to use their sick leave or take unpaid leave! They may just keep it to themselves, go to work so that they can earn their wages, and spread it to others. After the borders reopens to tourists without quarantine, consider also those in the tourist industry, who rely heavily on commissions (eg jewelry store employees), if they stay home if they are positive, they would lose out on the commission they make (which has almost been paused to a great extent since March 2020), so would every one of those people, who find out positive by home testing but are asymptomatic – would they reveal it to their employers? When home testing starts and when tourists return to our islands, government needs to have some regulations in place so that people don’t go to work even after finding out at home that they are positive. How about making it paid leave for those positive of COVID 19? Otherwise good luck with how many people would be honest to reveal it!

    CNS – could you please raise this at the next press briefing?

  29. Anonymous says:

    Unless applied to all expatriates in the Civil Service, these measures will be in and of themselves unconstitutional and therefore unlawful. There is no rational basis to distinguish between the private sector and the public sector on this issue. It is time for any Public Health rules to be applied equally, or not at all.

  30. Randall F. says:

    Vaccines alone will not protect us. Reasonable social distancing, reduced gatherings indoors, quarantines, better hygeine, and masks will also be necessary until this pandemic passes, and will also be necessary when the next one comes, and the next one after that, and so on.

    This is so-called “living with-it”. Once we all agree on that, we can move forward as a nation. Until then, vaccines alone are not the solution.

    • Anonymous says:

      These first vaccines definitely help, but the next mRNA pipeline with VOC-specific inoculative effect might be the final countermeasure we need. 2-3 months away. Taking care in the meantime as you suggest. Think about an antibody titre (Quest $100) or booster if under 1000 U/ml. Jamaica vaccinated still under 20%!

      • Guido Marsupio says:

        Antibody titre is pretty much useless and irrelevent vs. whether you are resistant to getting ill from COVID. It doesn’t measure what you would like it to measure, only a very slightly related thing that’s easy to measure. Will spare you the details but you can google it, just be sure to consider the source.

    • Anonymous says:

      Problem is they don’t want to wear masks or social distance either.

  31. Anonymous says:

    Covid is not even the main policy concern or news in major economies anymore. We know the vaccine works, delta has clearly been spreading in cayman for a month or so and no one is dying due to the Pfizer jabs. Just open up and live with it like a modern developed country with open borders and no quarantine for vaccinated. Why are we behaving like clueless embarrassing fools?

    • Anonymous says:

      You answered your own question with your last three words as that is what the Government is proving to be.

  32. Anonymous says:

    Thank you Logic for putting on BBC One to watch the Live Global Citizen concert and break the monotonous dribble. Revitalized! That’s news today (not over 18 months ago) and that’s how you live with Covid!

    Thank you CNS if you publish this and keep up the good work.

  33. Anonymous says:

    Now make it compulsory for everyone. What a joke that some health workers, government employees, people driving taxis from airport to quarantine, amongst others, cam be in jabbed. Absolute disgrace. Expat community generate the most income for government on this island and are the only ones being forced to do things!

    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly. Apply a Territorial Public Health Order, as we already have in regards to many other fully-approved vaccines against lessor existential threats like hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza. And yes, Pfizer COMIRNATY was upgraded to full approval by FDA a month ago. Time to recalibrate the messaging for everyone.

    • Mumbichi says:

      Fine, then make more variety of vaccines available. There are many people who are excluded from taking an mRNA vaccine. Get more AstraZeneca, and even the Johnson & Johnson.

      I believe most people have already chosen. I believe if people were given more choices, we would increase our vaccinated population. Those that don’t want any vaccine should not be forced into it.

      Should we open up — no quarantine for anyone — and let the current variant and the future ones have their way with us? That is the only true ‘herd immunity’, just as with the seasonal flu. Yes, people will die. I am old. I might be one of them. So it goes. You young people get to decide I guess.

      Something to consider: Think how this virus has evolved. You that got your vaccine in January/Feb., those have probably run out and no longer effective. With the Delta, even more vaccinated are getting sick/able to spread than before. What will the next variant be?

      I’m not afraid. I’ve had a good life. I think we should make the big four vaccines available to the population, and then that is all we or anyone else can do.

      • Anonymous says:

        We had Astra-zenica here..why didn’t you go get it .. If there is a demand for more I’m sure the governor can arrange it..

        To me, this is just another example of excuses not to get the vaccine.

        • Mumbichi says:

          I didn’t say I didn’t get it. I believe there are many more that would take it, and others, if the choice were given.

          Not everyone is like you. Not everyone thinks like you, or faces the same health issues. You have to ask yourself if you merely want to be mad at those who think differently, or if your goals are to protect as many people as possible.

          I know what my answer is.

  34. Anonymous says:

    I’m all for vaccines, but mandating vaccines only for work permit holders with a limited ability to leave the island makes me cringe a bit.
    Reminiscent of a darker time, and it’s a slippery slope.. What’s next, no unions or worker’s rights? oh wait..

    • Anonymous says:

      Some vaccines are already mandated for Work permit holders and I never hear any of them complaining..You can’t love our milk and honey and refuse to help us through this pandemic.

      You all knew this was coming and there still is a choice. You are a guest worker in this country. I could not go to your and make the same demands.

  35. Anonymous says:

    Look at the live Global Citizen music concert happening now in the real world, real life compared to the depressing dictatorship crap happening in Cayman. And the so called Health Minister needs urgent training as to how speak to peopke, not at them, disgraceful and will never waste my time to be insulted by watching another press conference.

  36. Anonymous says:

    2:31pm

    Get lost!

    Never supported the formation of PACT.

    Irregardless, both PPM and PACT got this right thus far.

  37. Anonymous says:

    So Caymanians can’t catch COVID I follow all the rules but my Caymanian colleague listens to the local church and Facebook and refuses to have the vaccine.
    Why should they be treated differently, oh of course I don’t have a vote to keep the snouts at the trough

    • Anonymous says:

      Expats, tourists, and the Jamaican canoes are the only ones that get covid. Caymanians are somehow Immune. Really?? LOL

    • Anonymous says:

      Thank you for having the guts to do this legislators.

      I am blessed enough to have become Caymanian a long time ago.

      Prior to that my family were guests in this country and other countries around the world. Whatever the rules were, (and at times there were sometimes very different rules for people who were not from that country), we followed them and we were taught to respect them. That has never changed for me and it never will.

  38. Anonymous says:

    And they just ignore the stronger than vaccines natural immunity of covid-recovered, these dimwits. Does the mandatory vaccine cover non-Caymanian kids 12 years and older? If it does it’s barbaric considering the frequency of myocarditis in kids after the Pfizer vaccine.

  39. Anonymous says:

    Declaring war on expats to deal with the fear of Covid. How third world! Bring it on.

    • Anonymous says:

      In November you will no longer be able to enter the United States without proof of vaccination so how are all of these work permit holders are going to get here or for that matter get home..Other then the lower income Jamaicans, Hondurans and Filipinos who go through London because they can enter the USA anyway how are they going to get here? I would say it would be better for them to get their vaccination done prior to coming to Cayman.

  40. Anonymous says:

    FINALLY!
    At long last we can eventually rid the island of anti-vaxxers except of course for the Caymanians who still can’t seem to come to grips with reality. Oddly, those Caymanians are the first to spew get rid of the expats, well, here you go. YOU”RE WELCOME!

  41. Anonymous says:

    Why bother?
    Cayman is clearly never opening. We have lost all credibility and this government have proved themselves untrustworthy and weak.

    • Anonymous says:

      Cayman is one of the few countries putting its people before profits. Unlike other jurisdictions who cannot.

      March 2020, the former Premier told business that if they cannot survive off of the local economy they would close.

      18 months later, businesses are acting shocked because local politicians continue to place the lives of their elders and children over the profits of businesses who will not hire and pay livable wages to locals.

      This country will not let it’s citizens die because you want to make a buck.

      “Money does not disappear, it just changes industries.”

      You had 18 months to figure out how you would make money during a pandemic. If you couldn’t do it, perhaps your business was no better than the horse drawn carriage.

    • Anonymous says:

      Why you say so.

    • Anonymous says:

      DGovnr is headed for some serious roadblocks and controversies and he needs to realize that he don’t own people’s bodies and they have a right to say what/ won’t ingest into their bodies and they don’t need to come with no foolishness about mandating and need to stop acting like Socialist

    • Anonymous says:

      Overreacting much? Saying Cayman is never reopening is the most ridiculous statement I have heard in a long time.

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