The first batch of the Covid-19 vaccine has arrived in the Isle of Man.

Now the Department of Health and Social Care is preparing for the first residents to be vaccinated which should be by Monday next week, if not, then by January 4 at the latest.

The Isle of Man receives vaccine on a per-capita basis through the UK NHS supply chain.

Two trays of 975 doses of the vaccine arrived by ferry in the early hours of December 16.

It was then transferred to a specialist medical freezer, where it is being stored at a temperature of minus 70C.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was approved by the UK medicines regulator last month.

The first phase of the vaccination will focus on health and care staff, care home residents and workers and the over-80s.

Each will need two jabs – the second 21 days after the first, which is why there are two trays.

Final preparations were completed this week for training and the coordination of vaccinator teams.

Before the vaccinations can be administered, the government will need final documentation from the UK government.

Priority groups are set out by the joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations, an independent advisory body to the UK government.

In the first phase, expected to last eight weeks, vaccinators will visit care homes to give residents their jabs, while health and care staff will be vaccinated in their workplace, or be invited to attend Noble’s or Ramsey Cottage Hospital for their jab.

Later on in the programme, island residents will be invited to a vaccination hub, as priority groups are called.

An area at Ronaldsway Airport is being developed to serve as this hub and work to provide all necessary facilities for staff and patients is now underway.

Minister for Health and Social Care David Ashford said: ’The arrival of the first Covid vaccine in the island is a landmark moment in our efforts to protect the population from the virus, but there are critical steps to take before we can start vaccinating people, and a large team of dedicated staff stands behind our front-line vaccinators making final preparations.

He added: ‘Planning a mass vaccination programme is a huge challenge demanding a wide range of skills.

’Once again our staff are showing great commitment and professionalism to get the job done, scoping out each stage in fine detail, dealing with issues as they arise and finding solutions to problems.

‘We are driven by a collective aim to ensure our people receive the best possible service, and that the approach is suitable for the residents of the Isle of Man.’

The DHSC is still looking for volunteers to be trained-up and deliver the vaccines - so far there are 80 people who have received thorough training. Mr Ashford said: ‘We have some phenomenal members of staff and we want to reiterate that we’re appealing for people to help.’