HE Governor of the Cayman Islands, Martyn Roper, has confirmed that he, along with Hon. Premier Alden McLaughlin and Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee will be first in line for the jab when the COVID-19 vaccine is rolled out in Cayman.
“I have agreed to be one of the first to take the vaccine in public next week with the Premier and Dr Lee.”
In a social media post on Wednesday morning, Governor Roper welcomed the news out of the UK that a second vaccine has been approved for use.
“Excellent news from UK this morning that the UK regulator has approved the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine,” he wrote.
“UK has ordered enough for 50 million people. Roll-out will start on Monday with aim to vaccinate 2 million people a week. Much easier to deliver and transport as does not need cold storage.
“One dose will be given to as many people as possible giving 70-80% immunity and a booster 12 weeks later to give longer-term immunity (how long not known yet).”
He called it “a game-changer” saying it “offers hope to the world” and is “a great result for British science.”
Mr Roper said the UK has given the commitment to supply vaccines to the Overseas Territories with the first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine - the first to be approved globally by the UK due to arrive here on the BA flight on 5 January.
The Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine is now being administered in the UK, the first country to do so.
“We are still expecting our first supplies on the BA flight on 5 January and enough vaccines initially for 5,000 people on our Islands. That will be the 2 dose Pfizer vaccine and discussions are underway on future supplies,” the Governor stated.
A national COVID-19 voluntary inoculation campaign throughout the Cayman Islands is being coordinated to start in the coming weeks.
On the issue of ensuring that Cayman continues to suppress the spread of the virus, Mr Roper said, “While we are fortunate to be largely Covid free (apart from a small number of returning travellers), the virus and a dangerous new strain continue to rage around us.”
He is urging residents to “continue to exercise the utmost caution. Approval of this new vaccine, and other vaccines, is our way out of this pandemic.”
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