Teens And Over 40s Offered More Covid Jabs

Monday, 15 November 2021 at 14:00

16 and 17-year-olds in Jersey will be offered a second coronavirus vaccine dose, and the booster programme has been extended to include islanders in their 40s.

It follows recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

"We welcome the latest guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) regarding the expansion of the COVID-19 booster programme to 40-49-year-olds. This will further strengthen the protection that vaccination provides and where immunity is waning.

"We also welcome the JCVI recommendation to offer 16 and 17-year-olds a second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and acknowledge that this has also been supported by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) who have reviewed all the clinical data and concluded the benefits of vaccination remain favourable for this age group.

"We will be incorporating this latest guidance into the Jersey vaccination programme and will soon be providing further details of the operational rollout for boosters and second doses for 16 and 17-year-olds." - Deputy Richard Renouf, Health Minister.

A third dose can be given six months after the second.

Experts want all 16 and 17-year-olds to have their second dose at least 12 weeks after the first.

As of 7 November, 80 of over 80s and 81% of 75 to 79-year-olds have had their booster dose.

52% of 16 and 17-year-olds have had their first jab.

Dr. Ivan Muscat has told Channel 103 that they're looking at better communicating the benefits of coronavirus vaccination to younger age groups.

The government is considering offering Covid-19 vaccination in schools.