Vaccine to be offered to 16- and 17-year-olds
SIXTEEN and 17-year-olds are to join the ranks of the island’s vaccinated as soon as possible, the Health & Social Care committee has agreed.
The UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) last week changed tack and agreed to extend vaccination to younger teenagers, and Guernsey has agreed to follow suit.
The JCVI said that in the past few weeks, there had been large changes in the way Covid-19 had been spreading in the UK, particularly in younger age groups, which led it to review vaccination for younger people.
It said that updated advice meant that young people would be afforded about 80% protection against hospitalisation following receipt of a first dose. It could be even higher as younger people often respond better to vaccines.
A first dose will be a priority with the second to follow some 12 weeks later, extending protection for a longer period to cover starting work or university or another wave of cases in winter.
All islanders in this age bracket will be contacted by letter to arrange their jab, or they may attend a drop-in session after receiving the invitation letter.
‘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,’ said Alex Hawkins-Drew, lead for the Bailiwick Vaccination Programme.
‘We await further guidance on when the second dose should be provided.’
The JCVI has not recommended vaccinating under-16s without underlying health conditions but will put this under review.
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 also eligible for vaccination.
Contact will be made with them in due course.
