Cayman’s first batch of H1N1 vaccine is expected to arrive the last week of December with the vaccination programme starting early in the new year.
The vaccine supply for the Cayman Islands is produced by Sanofi Pasteur in France, approved by WHO and European Union.
“The flu season is far from over, and I am very relieved that we will soon start to vaccinate our health care workers and high risk population. However, I urge people to continue to take the usual precautions such as good personal hygiene and staying home when sick,” Minister of Health Mark Scotland said.
The vaccine supply for the Cayman Islands is produced by Sanofi Pasteur in France, approved by WHO and European Union.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kiran Kumar said: “We will receive 10,000 doses initially and we will have enough quantities to vaccinate everyone who wishes to have it as the demand will be monitored and additional supplies will be procured as needed.”
In keeping with international guidelines, the initial doses of the vaccine will be offered first to designated priority groups:
• Health care workers and support staff to ensure there is no disruption to health care services,
• Pregnant women in any trimester and those who are most at risk of severe disease i.e. diabetes, those with chronic respiratory, cardiac (excluding hypertension) renal, liver and neurological disease.
Later, essential workers and all others will be offered the vaccine.
