Vulnerable children ages 5 to 11 can now receive the COVID-19 vaccine, with approval for vaccination for all kids within that age group still pending, government officials have said.
Health Minister Sabrina Turner announced, at Thursday’s COVID-19 media briefing, that at-risk children will be allowed to take the vaccine at clinics set up by the Health Services Authority and Public Health.
However, she said, “there are strict guidelines on the eligibility,” adding the roll-out of vaccines for that age group will be publicised when the HSA is ready to proceed with those shots.
The minister said a letter from a physician in support of a child receiving the vaccine will be required before it is administered.
As far as opening vaccinations more broadly to all kids age 5-11, Premier Wayne Panton, also speaking at the briefing, said he hoped that approval will happen soon.
“That is an issue that is still regarded as imminent in terms of authorisation… to administer the vaccine to that age group of children generally. We are working very hard every day to try to get that authorisation,” he said, adding he hoped it “could be just a day or two or few days”.
Panton, speaking Friday morning on Radio Cayman’s For the Record talkshow with Orrett Connor, said there is continued optimism on this issue; however, there remains a challenge.
“There is still a little delay [with] the supply of the actual children’s vaccine,” Panton said, but he hastened to add it is good news that approval is coming.
Who is eligible?
Eligible children include those who have medical conditions, Turner said.
“[T]his includes children aged 5 to 11 who have chronic respiratory disease, heart conditions… conditions with the kidney, liver or the digestive system, neurological disease such as Down Syndrome, endocrine disorders and [immunocompromised]. Those undergoing chemotherapy or [with] respiratory and serious genetic abnormalities that affect a number of systems,” she said Thursday.
Last November an advisory committee to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted to recommend Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, and the US Food and Drug Administration authorised its use for that age group.
However, in Cayman the vaccination programme is overseen by the UK government, which has donated and transported both the Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines for use in the islands.
Therefore the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for children had to first be approved by the UK Medicines Healthcare products and Regulatory Agency.
Children 5 through 11 years old will receive a separate vaccine formulation of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. It contains one-third of the dose given to adolescents and adults, and children will receive the vaccine with a smaller needle.
Since June last year children from 12 to 17 have been able to receive the vaccine after the MHRA assessed that the benefits of vaccinating the age group exceeded the risks on an individual basis.
According to Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr. Autilia Newton’s latest weekly epidemiological report, 92% of the eligible population age 12 and older are fully vaccinated.
General vaccination rates remain very high, with 83.2% of the population receiving at least one vaccine dose and 81% fully vaccinated.
However, when it comes to boosters only 1,165 shots were administered during the week of 9 to 15 Jan.
The report said the booster rate remains low, as only 28% of the population and 32% of over 12 year olds have so far received a third shot.
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