Autumn vaccines announced

Friday 02 September 2022

The official who leads the Bailiwick's vaccination programme says the islands are entering the colder months of the year facing "some uncertainty" over covid and flu viruses.

"Australia has had an early and very severe flu season and we expect this to be replicated in the northern hemisphere in the coming months. We also expect to have covid-19 circulating in our community," said Alex Hawkins-Drew.

She was speaking as the States this afternoon announced arrangements for a new round of covid-19 boosters and flu vaccines this autumn.

They will be available at doctors' surgeries and a new community vaccination centre in St Martin's. 

Pictured: St Sampson's surgery at Grandes Maisons Road is one of the GP practices at which covid-19 vaccines will be available this autumn. 

"This autumn you will be able to receive covid-19 and seasonal influenza vaccinations at either the new community vaccination centre or your registered primary care practice," said the States.

"Raymond Falla House has been chosen as the community vaccination centre site to deliver the covid-19 autumn booster and seasonal influenza programme, which will begin to roll out next week. 

"Residents in Alderney will continue to be able to receive their vaccinations at the Island Medical Centre.

"Like the winter 2021/22 booster programme, the autumn covid-19 booster will be co-administered with the annual flu programme whereby those eligible for both vaccines will be able to receive them at the same time if both vaccines are available on island."

Pictured: Alex Hawkins-Drew, Vaccination Programme Lead.

"We do know that the successful take up of our covid-19 vaccination programme has meant that recent outbreaks of covid-19, particularly in older residents, have seen fewer experiencing severe disease or requiring hospitalisation," said Ms Hawkins-Drew.

"We are pleased to be working with our colleagues in primary care, who will provide valuable capacity to enable us to meet the demand for vaccines.

"They also provide an element of patient choice as individuals can attend their own GP practice or the community vaccination centre at Raymond Falla House."

Pictured: Deputy Al Brouard, President of the Committee for Health & Social Care, which oversees the Bailiwick's vaccination programme.

The Committee for Health & Social Care has agreed that the following Bailiwick residents will be offered a covid-19 booster this autumn:

• adults aged 50 years and over;
• those aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women, or who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression or are carers;
• residents and staff working in a care home for older adults;
• front line health and social care.

This is in line with advice from the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. 

Letters will be sent to people eligible for covid-19 boosters inviting them to make an appointment at the community vaccination centre at Raymond Falla House or at their normal GP surgery.

The following Bailiwick residents will be offered a flu vaccine:

• adults aged 50 years and over;
• those at risk from a flu infection;
• children between the age of two and those in Year 11 at school.

Flu vaccinations for schoolchildren will be provided by school nurses as normal. 

Pictured: The latest covid-19 testing results were announced earlier this week.

The latest testing results, which were released on Tuesday, showed 128 known active cases of covid-19 in the Bailiwick.

Nearly 31,000 people are known to have been infected with the virus and since recovered. There have been 62 deaths due to or involving covid-19.

There are currently fewer than five patients in hospital with a covid-19 diagnosis.