Almost the entirety of the first batch of corona virus vaccines has been successfully administered, with over a third going to care home staff.
975 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine were received by the Public Health team earlier this month, shortly after it was approved for use in the United Kingdom. Of those, 968 were successfully administered.
“The roll-out of the vaccine over the weekend was extremely successful,” said Director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink. “The atmosphere at the end of the last clinic was one of great satisfaction.
“We were able to maximise delivery of the doses we received in the first delivery with staff in the hospital being canvassed at the end of the clinic to ensure all doses could be used. No one who has received the vaccine so far has experienced any adverse reactions.
“I would like to extend our thanks to all the vaccinators and administrative staff who have made this possible in such a short period of time.”
Pictured: Sue Fleming, Matron of St John's Residential Home, was the first person in the Bailiwick of Guernsey to receive the vaccine. CLICK HERE for more.
The vaccine requires storage in a specialised freezer at -70 degrees, and once it is removed from that freezer it must be administered within five days.
Due to these constraints, there is an expected 20% wastage in each batch of 975 doses; that only seven doses - 0.7% - went unused is "a credit to the vaccinators delivering the programme", said Dr Brink.
Those who have received their vaccinations are due to receive their second dose on 7 January. Following this, the next cohort will receive their first dose on 11 January, and will include remaining residents and staff of care homes, other healthcare workers, and some citizens over the age of 80.
The PEH will continue to be used as a 'satellite' vaccination centre ahead of the setup of the Sir John Loveridge Hall, but care home residents will not need to visit either centre to receive the vaccination, as Dr Brink explained in yesterday's media briefing.
"We have gone through a detailed protocol, which was discussed with the MHRA, where we can move the vaccine from the PEH into the care homes," she said. "We have receptacles which we can store the vaccine in upright, and transport it safely, so we will be delivering the vaccine to residents within their care homes."
Vaccines are designed to prevent people from getting serious infectious diseases. It is much safer for your immune system to learn how to fight illnesses through vaccination than by catching and treating them. Read more: https://t.co/cLKwP4TPXf pic.twitter.com/glWqMybwMs
— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) December 22, 2020
The Committee for Health & Social Care continues to monitor the decisions made by the MHRA in the UK, and any vaccines approved for use in the Bailiwick will likewise be considered for use in Guernsey.
The first 968 doses of the vaccine were administered as follows:
- 350 to care home staff
- 50 to MSG frontline staff
- 30 to Primary Care doctors and nurses
- 25 to Dentists and Hygenists
- 25 to paramedics, ambulance technicians and first responders
- 30 to Alderney and Sark
- 328 to Acute staff, mental health ward staff, and allied health professionals
- 130 to social care staff, including district nurses, domiciliary care staff, and private carers
CLICK HERE to read more about the Bailiwick's vaccination programme.
Pictured top: the vaccination centre at the Emma Ferbrache room in the PEH.
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