The government has announced that the Isle of Man’s vaccination programme will offer an additional booster vaccine to those most vulnerable.

This extra dose should be offered no earlier than 24 weeks after their initial booster dose of the vaccine.

Timings will be confirmed when final guidance is published.

This includes:

l All residents in an older adults care home

l All adults aged 75+

l All those aged 12+ who are immunosuppressed

On the topic of some clinically vulnerable people having had a total of four jabs, the Department of Health and Social Care said: ’Where any person is adjudged by their clinical specialist to have been immunosuppressed at the time of one or both of their primary doses, the UK’s Joint Commission on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has identified that the vaccine may not provide the optimum level of cover.

’In order to ensure that anyone who falls into this category is suitably covered, the JCVI have recommended that they have a third primary vaccination, followed at least three months later by a booster dose.

booster

’We have vaccinated 1,429 people with a third primary dose, but so far only 160 of those 1,429 have come forwards to have their booster dose, whereas some 630 are currently eligible.

’We would therefore urge all of those who have been given a third primary dose due to immunosuppression, to attend any walk in clinic to have their booster at least three months after that third dose.’

They added: ’Third primary doses and booster doses are to be of a MRNA vaccine, meaning either Spikevax (Moderna) or Comirnaty (Pfizer), except where for medical reasons neither of these vaccines can be used, we have a very small stock of alternate vaccine available.’

The government has stated that further information on the rollout will be provided soon, and have asked that the public ’please do not contact 111 in the meantime’.

This includes: