Community vaccinations to take place at Burnt Lane

The building in Longue Rue, St Martin’s, also known as Burnt Lane, has been shut in recent weeks after departments moved to other States sites.

In the long term it is set to become a Health & Social Care community hub but in the meantime it will be the new Community Vaccination Centre.

All adults over 50 will be eligible for boosters this autumn, as well as care home and health care staff and vulnerable people and their households.

With Beau Sejour’s Sir John Loveridge Hall handed back for sports use in March, the St Martin’s site is being prepared for thousands of islanders to visit in the coming months.

A Health & Social Care spokeswoman said the site was suitable for the job.

‘Raymond Falla House presented an ideal location in terms of size, parking and not requiring infrastructure changes to host the vaccination centre,’ she said.

‘Final arrangements are being put in place ahead of September, which includes timing of clinics so that they do not clash with school start/finish times to ease congestion in the area.’

Like last winter’s 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.

However, HSC is still awaiting further information from the JCVI regarding the detailed deployment of vaccines for the autumn booster programme and whether that could include bivalent Covid-19 booster vaccines, which target the original virus from 2020 and the Omicron variant.

Islanders will also be able to get vaccines from their doctor, while Alderney residents will receive their vaccinations at the Island Medical Centre.

The vaccine programme is set to start at the beginning of September. Vaccination Programme lead Alex Hawkins-Drew said there was some uncertainty as they entered the winter.

‘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,’ she said.

‘We also expect to have Covid-19 circulating in our community. 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.

‘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 CVC at Raymond Falla House.’

Letters will be sent to those who are eligible for a Covid-19 booster inviting them to make an appointment.

All appointments, whether for Primary Care clinics or the CVC, will be made through the States’ vaccination call centre. Details will be included on the invitation letter.

Islanders are reminded that they cannot have a booster until 28 days have passed since a positive LFT. Those aged 12 to 17 will need to wait 12 weeks.

Flu vaccines will be offered to those aged 50 and over, those who are classed as being at risk from an influenza infection and children aged from two to those in Year 11 at school. Children’s flu vaccines will be given at school.

So far 157,708 vaccine doses have been given, with nearly 80% of adults having had two vaccines and booster.

Those eligible for a Covid booster this autumn

All adults aged 50 years and over

Those aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women

Those aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression

Those aged 16 to 49 who are carers

Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults

Frontline health and social care workers