The Cayman Islands is to receive its first batch of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines on Tuesday (January 5) Governor of the UK-governed territory, Martyn Roper announced.

According to Governor Roper, the shipment of 5,000 Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines are en route via a British Airways flight and would be administered in the first instance to frontline workers and vulnerable groups.

“The first batch of Pfizer vaccines arrives later today. Sincerely hope the vaccines will prove a turning point in our fight against COVID. [The] UK has committed to supplying them,” he said.

The shipment is estimated to cost the Cayman Islands £200,000, and Roper further noted he would be among the first vaccinations alongside Premier Alden McLaughlin and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr John Lee.

“I will be having my vaccination later this week and would encourage you all to as well,” the Caymanian governor added.

Roper, in a statement last Wednesday, said the UK gave its commitment to supply vaccines to all its overseas territories.

“That will be the [two]-dose Pfizer vaccine and discussions are underway on future supplies. While we are fortunate to be largely COVID free (apart from a small number of returning travellers), the virus and a dangerous new variant continue to rage around us. We need to continue to exercise the utmost caution. Approval of this new vaccine, and other vaccines, is our way out of this pandemic,” he said.

The Cayman Islands has done comparatively well in responding to the local outbreak of COVID-19, as it currently manages 50 active cases.

As at 5:00 pm on January 4, the territory confirmed nine new cases of COVID-19, bringing the national tally to 347. A total of 299 patients have made a full recovery from the infectious disease, while two have died from coronavirus-related complications.