EDITOR’S NOTE: In our last newsletter, #HealthCaribbean covered COVID-19 vaccination in independent Caribbean nations. In this newsletter, we cover vaccination in Overseas Territories of Britain, U.S.A., and Europe. The Cayman Islands and Bermuda are covered as British Overseas Territories; The U.S. Virgin Islands as a U.S. Overseas Territory; and, The Netherland Antilles as European Overseas Territories.
Our headline, taken from the Jamaica Gleaner, reads: “CARPHA says AstraZeneca vaccine in Caribbean different from batch in Europe”. However, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) does not comment on matters concerning Overseas Territories. So, the batch of vaccines used on atleast the European territories might very well be the same.
Following from our newsletter on the delivery of vaccines, the vaccination process is well advanced in the Overseas Territories: with second doses being administered, and Cayman having already vaccinated a quarter of its population. But if European investigations confirm side-effect of their batch, the European Overseas Territories could also be at risk.
HealthCaribbean Weekday ed. 2021-03-22
Cornwall Regional Hospital