There are renewed calls for people to take up the opportunity of a booster Covid vaccination when offered after a huge number of people failed to turn up to their appointments this week.

On Monday, there were 680 appointments booked for people to get their booster, and 187 did not attend.

There appears to be less appetite for the booster vaccine than with the original vaccination programme, with only around 75% of those offered it actually turning up.

Since the start of the booster programme, 1,388 people have missed their appointments.

As we have previously reported, those who do not show up on the day are classed as ’Did Not Attend’ (DNA).

DNAs can be due to a number of things - those who don’t want the vaccine, those who forgot their appointment and those who cannot make their allotted appointment time and have not changed it by calling 111.

Department of Health and Social Care chief executive Kathryn Magson is now appealing for those with an appointment to make sure they attend it to prevent vaccine wastage and help protect themselves going into the Christmas period, when we will all undoubtedly mix more.

Ms Magson said: ’I’m struggling with the whole not being able to cancel in time.

’Unless they’re booked in on a short notice - which some people are to fill gaps - the majority of people are getting letters at least two to three weeks ahead. So there should be no reason really why people are not given the opportunity to ring up and cancel if it doesn’t work for them and to re-book.’

She acknowledged there is a rising issue regarding people not attending their appointments.

She said: ’Monday was the worst day we’ve ever had, and we have seen a rising number.

’We’re seeing about 20% of those offered an appointment are either DNAs or cancelled, which is a significant number.

’Now, the cancellations we can work through and we can re-book those at appropriate times. Clearly people are away, it might not be convenient, and so forth, and that’s absolutely fine.

’But in reality, we do need to make sure people do what they can to prioritise having this.

’Businesses need to be flexible in order to allow people to come out of the workplace and so on.’

Another concern is vaccine wastage, which is unavoidable when large numbers of people fail to attend.

Ms Magson said: ’There are a lot of resources that go into play trying to manage this programme. The vaccines themselves have a relatively reasonable shelf life but ultimately because of the level of DNAs that we’re seeing at the moment we are seeing an increasing number of wasted vaccines which just feels really, really difficult for the team.’

The push from the department for the population of the island to be vaccinated it underpinned by the hope it will ease pressures on the healthcare system going into the winter months, when seasonal illnesses are also rife.

Ms Magson said: ’Having a booster is the most important thing you can do to help health and social care services this winter.

’Protect yourself, protect those that you love, protect the vulnerable - particularly as we go into the Christmas period.

’So we are really asking people to prioritise and get this right, and take time out to make sure that they have their booster as and when it’s offered.’

There is a growing worry that misinformation regarding different vaccine brands is driving the lack of turnout for the booster programme, which has only seen around 75% of those offered an appointment actually get their jab.

Ms Magson explained: ’The other thing that’s really driving me and giving me cause for concern is we seem to be seeing a greater level of DNAs when it’s a Moderna vaccine. We don’t particularly know why but we think there’s a misunderstanding out there.

’If you take the stats around the first and second doses, [comparing] those that had a blend of Astra-Zeneca and Pfizer and those that had a blend of Astra-Zeneca and Moderna to unvaccinated individuals - there was a greater level of protection with Astra-Zeneca and Moderna than there was with Astra-Zeneca and Pfizer, so overall we really do think people need to understand that Moderna is probably as good as, if not slightly better, at providing that protection.

’It’s just that the Moderna vaccine came much later on, and the studies haven’t yet been completed around the booster, but we expect over time that will come through.

’We really would encourage people not only to take up the vaccine because it’s the single most important thing that you can do, whether it’s Astra-Zeneca or Moderna.

’But if it is Moderna when that’s offered to you, then please do grab it with both hands because that’s the most important thing [by having the booster] you’re going to be back to being over 90% protected again from symptomatic disease.’

She added: ’As people start to socialise more, start to go to more and more events, as they start to meet more vulnerable relatives that they’ve perhaps not seen for a while - I have to say, other than your Christmas shopping this is going to be the most important thing you can do.’