Covid vaccines approved locally for all 16 and 17 year olds

Monday 09 August 2021

The Committee for Health & Social Care has announced that all Bailiwick residents aged 16 and over will be offered a vaccination against Covid-19 as soon as possible.

Those who fall into this age group will be contacted by letter in order to arrange a date for vaccination at the Community Vaccination Centre.

In addition, they can attend any drop-in session at the Community Vaccination Centre once they have received their invitation letter. If doing so, they will need to provide proof of identity and their address.

Alex Hawkins-Drew, Lead for the Bailiwick Vaccination Programme, confirmed that Guernsey was following the JCVI's guidance, which was issued last week and has seen a similar vaccination drive initiated in England.

"Now we have certainty from the JCVI regarding vaccination for children and young people, we are working hard to ensure that they receive their first dose of vaccination as soon as possible," she said. 

"We await further guidance on when the second dose should be provided."

A spokesperson for the HSC Committee said the vaccination is also available to some people with underlying health conditions below the age of 16.

"The JCVI recommendation is that those over the age of 16 should receive 1 dose as soon as possible in order to provide them around 80% protection against hospitalisation from Covid-19.

"The JCVI have not recommended vaccinating under-16s without underlying health conditions but will keep its position under review based on the latest data.

"Those aged 12 to 15 with severe neuro-disabilities, Down’s Syndrome, specific conditions that cause immunosuppression and profound and multiple or severe learning disabilities, as well as people in this age group who are a close household contacts of individuals who are immunosuppressed, are eligible for vaccination.

"We are working closely with our health colleagues to identify those aged 12 to 15 who meet the JCVI criteria for vaccination and will be in contact with families in due course. This cohort of individuals will receive two doses of vaccine, as per the JCVI guidance."