Director of Primary Health Care, Dr Kiran Kumar is advising the public that only 200 doses of flu shots are available to the public and no more will be procured for this season. Vaccines will be offered on a first come first serve basis.  He is also reminding the public that persons be vaccinated before the peak of the flu season which ranges between December and January. The Flu vaccine is being offered FREE of cost to all residents and no appointments are necessary.

Persons requiring flu shots can visit any of the following locations:

• The General Practice Clinic at the Cayman Islands Hospital, Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac and all District Health Centres, from 2:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Little Cayman Clinic. Residents of Little Cayman should contact the clinic to make arrangements.

The following persons should not be vaccinated without first consulting their physician:

• Children less than 6 months of age
• People who have severe allergy to chicken or chicken eggs (the flu vaccine virus is grown on hens’ eggs)
• People with  known allergy to systemic Neomycin
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past
• People who developed Guillian-Barre’ syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting a vaccine previously.
• People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated.
• Nursing mothers should inform their doctor or nurse that they are breastfeeding before taking the flu shot.