The Moderna bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine is now available to anyone aged 12 and over, Cayman’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nick Gent announced this week.
“The Moderna Bivalent COVID-Booster vaccine has been extensively evaluated in children aged 12 and above and in adults,” Gent said in a statement. “It is safe, effective and contains a vaccine component specifically engineered for the current circulating strains of the COVID-19 virus and I would recommend it as the preferred booster vaccine for older children and all adults in the Cayman.”
The uptake of the bivalent booster has been low, with just 188 people availing of it last month. Since it was made available in Cayman in October last year, 3.3% of the population, or 2,143 people, have received it, according the latest monthly ‘Spotlight’ report from the Ministry of Health.
The report also noted the deaths of three people with COVID-19, each of whom had underlying comorbidities, in hospital in February.
Seventeen people with COVID-19 were treated in hospital last month, including patients admitted for health issues relating to their COVID infection, and those who tested positive for the virus when they were screened on admission and receiving care for other medical needs, the ministry stated.
According to genomic sequencing data from 217 positive samples checked from mid-December to mid-January, only the Omicron variant is detected to be circulating in Cayman. Almost half (47%) were BA.5 subtypes, followed by BA.2 subtypes (41%), with 10% of sequences unable to be classified.
The Moderna bivalent vaccine targets the original COVID strain, as well as Omicron BA.4 and BA.5.
Fewer test samples are available to the Public Health Department, as confirmation PCR testing was discontinued and COVID testing centres closed from 1 March. According to the health ministry, genomic sequencing data in its Spotlight reports will be provided on a quarterly basis.
To be vaccinated, those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to any of the Health Services Authority’s scheduled clinics.
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