Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
Updated August 11th, 2021
What if I lost my vaccination card?
You should contact the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority (HSA).
You can do it through their website , by email at [email protected] or phone at (345) 949 8600
Important
This site does not provide medical advice, it is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on this website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.Is it safe for my child to get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes. Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Like adults, children may have some side effects after COVID-19 vaccination. These side effects may affect their ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Children 12 years and older are now eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines have been used under the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history, including studies in children 12 years and older. Your child cannot get COVID-19 from any COVID-19 vaccine.
Why should my child get vaccinated against COVID-19?
COVID-19 vaccination can help protect your child from getting COVID-19. Although fewer children have been sick with COVID-19 compared to adults, children can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, can get sick from COVID-19, and can spread the virus that causes COVID-19 to others. Getting your child vaccinated helps to protect your child and your family. Vaccination is now recommended for everyone 12 years and older. Currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is the only one available to children 12 years and older.
Can I choose which COVID-19 vaccine I get?
No. Currently the Cayman Islands only provide the Pfizer-BuiNTech vaccine. Please contact the HSA if you have any allergies to any of it's ingredients or you think you should require a different vaccine.
If I am pregnant, can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes, if you are pregnant, you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
You might want to have a conversation with your healthcare provider to help you decide whether to get vaccinated. While such a conversation might be helpful, it is not required before vaccination. Learn more about vaccination considerations for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
How long does protection from a COVID-19 vaccine last?
We don’t know how long protection lasts for those who are vaccinated. What we do know is that COVID-19 has caused very serious illness and death for a lot of people. If you get COVID-19, you also risk giving it to loved ones who may get very sick. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer choice.
Experts are working to learn more about both natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity. CDC and EMA will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.
How many doses of COVID-19 vaccine will I need to get?
The number of doses needed depends on which vaccine you receive.
In the Cayman Islands currently we vaccine using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine who requires two doses that should be given 3 weeks (21 days) apart.
I Have Had COVID-19 Already, do I Need To Get Vaccinated?
Yes.Due to the life-threatening complications associated with COVID-19 and known cases of re-infection, you are encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine even if you had been sick with COVID-19 and have recovered, leaving at least four weeks from the time of infection.
At this time, experts do not know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. The immunity someone gains from having an infection, called natural immunity, varies from person to person. Some early evidence suggests natural immunity may not last very long.
I have an underlying contidion, can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?
People with underlying medical conditions can receive a COVID-19 vaccine as long as they have not had an immediate or severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine or to any of the ingredients in the vaccine.
Can the vaccines protect against the virus variants?
Viruses typically mutate. A mutation is when the genetic material in the virus changes. Sometimes, one or more mutations can bring about a new variant of the virus.
These variants might behave in different ways to the original virus. They may be more infectious, for example.
Mutations happen at different rates in different viruses. They do not necessarily affect how well vaccines work against the virus.
The scientific community and regulators are closely monitoring how SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is changing over time, and how well COVID-19 vaccines protect people against COVID-19 caused by variants of the virus. This information will help determine if people will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the future, like they do against influenza (flu), or if the initial vaccination course is sufficient, as it is for measles.
Can vaccinated people still be infected with SARS-CoV-2?
As long as the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to circulate, a limited number of infections will occur in people who have completed the recommended vaccination schedule.
Infections in vaccinated people do not mean the vaccines are not working. No vaccine is 100% effective, although the effectiveness of all Cayman-authorised COVID-19 vaccines is very high.
Vaccinated people are far better protected than unvaccinated people against severe disease and death caused by SARS-CoV-2, including variants such as Delta. Vaccination greatly reduces the number of people in hospital due to COVID-19.
As well as protecting those at highest risk of severe disease, vaccination is important for reducing the spread of the virus and preventing the emergence of new variants of concern.
Will booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines be needed?
It is currently too early to say if booster doses will be needed.
There is not yet enough data to understand how long protection from COVID-19 vaccines lasts, so the need for additional doses of the vaccines is not known.
In addition, the impact of the spread of virus variants needs to be considered.
CDC and EMA are reviewing all the data that are becoming available. These include data from clinical trials investigating booster doses and data on the effectiveness of the vaccines from Europe and other parts of the world.