The government has reiterated that people should not be ringing the 111 for clinical advice.

Instead you should review the frequently asked questions page on the gov.im website or contact your GP.

The 111 service is number to ring if you have symptoms, while it has also been tasked with registering people for their jabs and booking appointments.

When it is their turn, people will receive a letter from the Department of Health and Social Care inviting them to call 111 to register.

Once this is complete, a member of the 111 team will usually call the person back with an appointment for one or both vaccinations. If slots are free when the person calls to register, appointments may be made during that call.

An email or letter is then set to confirm appointments and this should be brought to the vaccination centre.

Minister for Health and Social Care David Ashford said: ’It is natural that people want to raise questions about the vaccination before they go for their jab.

’This is new territory for us all and I understand people have questions. However, these questions are not for the 111 team to answer, as they are not clinicians.’

He added: ’The job of 111 is to ensure people are registered, booked in and receive necessary information about their appointment in advance.

’A growing number of clinical queries are being inappropriately raised by callers to 111, which is delaying the team’s essential work. Please, if you have any clinical questions about being vaccinated, seek professional advice from your GP and for all other queries, refer to the gov.im website.’

A wide range of information on the vaccination programme is available online at: www.gov.im/covidvaccination