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Islanders urged to protect themselves against illness this winter

Thursday, 3 October 2024 13:21

Islanders are being encouraged to protect themselves against COVID and flu.

Autumn booster jabs available in Jersey from today (7 October). 

Those eligible for the COVID and flu vaccines are:

  • Aged 65 and over;

  •  In a clinical risk group, including pregnant women;

  • Healthcare workers;

  • Care home residents.

The free flu vaccine is also available for:

  • Islanders aged 50-64;
  • People living with certain health conditions;
  • Children aged 2 to school year 11;
  • Household contacts of those who are immunosuppressed.

People eligible for both vaccines can get them at their GP surgery.  Flu vaccines are also available from pharmacies,

Community pharmacists will be visiting care homes to offer the jabs to residents.

Children are receiving the flu vaccine nasal spray in schools. Consent forms were sent out at the beginning of the autumn term.  Anyone who has missed the visit to their school can go to their GP. 

Professor Peter Bradley

Professor Peter Bradley says the vaccines offer the best protection against serious illness.

"There's always that possibility of side effects such as a sore arm or a slight fever, depending on the vaccine you're receiving.

"These vaccines protect you against serious disease, they are very important.

"We're really lucky in Jersey to have people coming forward to receive the vaccinations, particularly in those childhood and younger age groups."

It comes as the latest figures for the immunisation rates show a slow decline in the number of teenage boys taking the HPV vaccine, which helps to protect couples from some types of cancer in later life.

It has been offered in Year 8 since 2019.

Professor Bradley said: "It's really important to realise that this is a real investment in couple's health in the future and we just need to ensure that we build on what we've got already and continue to see young people vaccinated against that."

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