Public Health to host mass vaccine drives

The Public Health Department will be hosting vaccination drives to celebrate the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) 21st annual Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA) 22nd – 29 April 2023. This year’s theme is Get up-to-date #EachVaccineCounts.

All children needing vaccinations, including those with missed or outstanding doses are urged to get vaccinated during the following Mass Vaccine Drives:

Saturday 22nd April John Gray High School Auditorium, 9am – 2pm

Saturday 6th May Mary Miller Hall, 9am - 2pm

Appointments can be made in advance by contacting 244-2648, however, walk-ins are also welcome. Parents will also be contacted to schedule appointments for those who have outstanding vaccines with Public Health. Adults needing Tetanus boosters or health care workers who need Hep B vaccines may also attend.

“Over the years, the Public Health Department has developed and maintained a robust vaccination schedule with a coverage rate of 95 percent for most vaccines", said Public Health Nurse & EPI Manager, Angela Graham. “Despite this achievement, there are still some children who do not complete their vaccine schedule, thus leaving themselves and other vulnerable groups at risk. We are encouraging parents to make and keep appointments with health care providers to ensure their child is up-to-date on all shots.”

“Our Public Health team will continue to work with schools, parents and the public to get up to date those children and adults to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases allowing them to live happier healthier lives”, Nurse Graham added.

Emphasizing the importance of children being vaccinated, Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez stated “The Cayman Islands continue to offer a rigorous vaccination programme which includes the procurement of vaccines approved by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). All vaccines used in the Cayman Islands are safe and are administered in accordance with guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and PAHO. Vaccines are safe and save lives!” Dr Williams-Rodriguez added.

The current childhood immunization schedule recommends that, by the age of 15 months, infants should have received the following vaccines, which offer protection against 15 diseases:

Three doses of hepatitis B; (at birth, six weeks and nine months)

One dose of BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin – tuberculosis vaccine); (at six weeks)

Three doses of rotavirus; (six weeks, four months, and six months)

Three doses of the combined DT&P (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough), IPV (inactivated polio vaccine), and Hib (Haemophilus influenza type b) at two, four, and six months)

Three doses of pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar) at two, four, and six months

One dose of varicella (chickenpox) and a booster of pneumococcal (at 12 months)

One dose of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella); and a booster dose of

combined DT&P and Hib (at 15 months)

Combined booster dose of DT&P and Hib at 15 months and a second booster of DT&P at 4 years old.

Children also need booster doses of combined DT&P and IPV and a second dose of Varicella (chicken pox) at school entry (four to five years).

Annual influenza (flu) vaccine is recommended for children six months and older and all adults.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is offered to girls in Year 7 in public schools with parental consent. Girls older than 12 years old are also offered this vaccine with parental consent if they did not get the vaccine in Year 7.

In addition to childhood immunization, vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases for adults are also available, including, boosters for tetanus and diphtheria, Zoster vaccines against shingles, as well as the annual influenza vaccine, COVID-19 Vaccine and Pneumococcal vaccines.

For information regarding immunizations, contact your private pediatrician or the following district health centres:

Public Health Department: 244-2648

West Bay Health Centre: 949-3439

Bodden Town Health Centre: 947-2299

East End Health Centre: 947-7440

North Side Health Centre: 947-9525

Faith Hospital, Cayman Brac: 948-2243

Little Cayman Clinic: 948-0072 /916-5395

Childhood immunization schedule is also available online https://www.hsa.ky/public-health/