Cayman reports 36th COVID-related death

The Cayman Islands Health Services Authority has reported another COVID-related death, bringing the total number of people in Cayman who have died after testing positive for the disease to 36.

The HSA said the latest death, on Saturday, 3 Dec., involved an individual with “severe comorbidities”.

No further details on the person’s age, vaccination status, or medical condition were released.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nick Gent, in a statement issued Monday about the death, stressed the importance of the vaccination and the booster doses, especially among the elderly and immunocompromised.

“Both the Moderna (bivalent) and the Pfizer boosters are on island, and I encourage our elderly and immunocompromised, as well as their caretakers and healthcare workers, to get boosted if they have not yet done so,” Gent said.

“As it has been said often, research has shown us that recommended booster doses, along with the two primary doses of the vaccination, will keep people out of the hospital, so my recommendation remains the same: get vaccinated and boosted.”

This is the first COVID-related death since October.

The HSA is currently only releasing information to the public about hospitalisations and deaths.

The vaccination schedule for the Moderna bivalent and Pfizer boosters can be found at  www.hsa.ky/public-health/coronavirus.

The seasonal flu vaccine is also available, and the Public Health Department recommends that the COVID-19 booster and flu vaccine be taken together.

Reporting vaccination side-effects

Last month, Public Health launched an online form through which people can report COVID-19 vaccination side-effects. Previously, people could report side effects through a physical form. To access the form, click here.

Public Health said the purpose of introducing digital reporting was to “enable real time monitoring of any reactions and create a more robust surveillance system”.

The online form is for those who have received the COVID-19 autumn booster in the Cayman Islands only and is not intended for people who have received the first two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, Public Health said.