Friday 18 March 2022
Islanders over the age of 75 and those who are immunosuppressed are to be offered a spring booster after the Committee for Health & Social Care agreed to follow latest guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
Letters are being sent to those who are eligible once they are six months post their most recent vaccine dose. Some of the most vulnerable islanders are eligible in March but most in this cohort will be invited for a booster dose during the coming months.
The JCVI guidance states that immunity derived from vaccination declines over time and many of the oldest adults and most vulnerable people received their most recent vaccine dose in September or October 2021.
These individuals are at much higher risk of severe coronavirus (COVID-19). Therefore, as a precautionary strategy to maintain high levels of immunity, the JCVI advised that an extra spring dose is offered around six months after the last vaccine dose for this cohort.
The JCVI advice can be read in full at JCVI advises a spring COVID-19 vaccine dose for the most vulnerable - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Deputy Al Brouard, President of the Committee for Health & Social Care, said:
'We have consistently aligned our vaccination programme to the UK's and the advice of the JCVI. Offering a spring booster dose to the most vulnerable in our community makes sense given we know that immunity wanes over time it's already been six months since their last dose for some of that group.'
