Concerns mount that some abuse vaccination program

“Because it is a vaccination campaign where thousands of people are to be immunized, to ask for proof of a medical condition would really slow things down so we need people to be responsible.”

(CMR) Mounting concerns about ineligible people getting access to the Pfizer vaccine and jumping ahead on the vaccination rollout program has promoted the Health Services Authority (HSA) to take immediate steps to curtail such activity.

Students, attorneys, restaurant workers are all taking advantage of the easy accessibility of the vaccination at the HSA some claim without any special need. The HSA will now add additional staff to the door and screen those coming in with a more watchful eye.

Earlier this week CMR received numerous complaints of people, including visitors, showing up to be vaccinated. One complainant shared:

“Essential workers are saying it's a free for all with even teenage students from private schools getting immunized. They were all just walking in and signing up, no one was checking IDs.”

Another person shared that an American visitor was actually got the vaccine already noting:

A query to the HSA has now prompted them to increase measures to ensure the right people are getting the vaccines at this state. A representative shared that they are expecting people to “use their integrity” but have acknowledged that while some have been turned away others may have been able to wiggle themself in. Also, there are some persons that may have medical conditions despite being attorneys and business people, making them eligible. However, there was no documentation of proof required of the medical condition.

Stage 1 of the vaccination program is aimed largely at the elderly and private healthcare workers and rolling out availability to the various district clinics on the Cayman and the sister islands over a two week period of time. Over 2,000 people have been vaccinated since the COVID-19 vaccination campaign began last week.