Children and young people aged 12-17 in the island will be offered the Pfizer BioNTech Covid vaccine if they fall into certain criteria.

The government has confirmed that the island’s vaccination programme will follow the advice of the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on the subject.

Previously, the JCVI and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) have advised vaccination of all adults aged 18 years and over and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable or those with underlying health conditions aged between 16 and 17.

Reviews have been undertaken in the UK looking at the potential risks and benefits of the Covid-19 vaccine for children and younger people.

The updated advice concluded that those aged 12-17 could be offered the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine if they are:

l Individuals aged 12 to 15 with specific underlying health conditions that put them at risk of serious illness from Covid-19.

l Individuals aged 12 to 17 who are share a household with an immunosuppressed person (either adults or children).

l Additionally, 17 year olds who are within three months of turning 18 are also eligible to be vaccinated.

planning

Planning for the extension of the vaccination programme is currently underway and more information on the rollout will be provided once the relevant documentation has been received from the UK Government.

Anyone who falls into these categories is asked to call 111 to register their interest for the vaccine but are reminded to please not attend the hub yet.

Young people who are aged 16 and 17 who are at higher risk of serious Covid-19 will continue to be offered the vaccine as part of either the clinically extremely vulnerable (PG4), or underlying health conditions (PG6) groups in line with the Phase 1 rollout.