The government has announced that a Covid-19 vaccine booster programme will go ahead as planned this winter.

It follows advice given to the UK Government this week from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

They stated that booster jabs should be offered to all adults aged 50 and over to prevent severe illness caused by Covid-19, hospitalisation and deaths, and to protect the NHS.

The Isle of Man is therefore going to follow suit, and rollout a third vaccine to around 40,000 local residents who had their second dose of vaccine at least six months ago.

The process will begin in the next few weeks, once essential documentation has been received from the UK.

The JCVI advises that having a booster will help maintain the high levels of protection offered by Covid vaccines for vulnerable adults throughout winter especially given the increase in possibility for social mixing indoors and the coming onset of seasonal influenza.

It has therefore recommended the following groups should be offered a third dose as soon as operationally practical:

P Frontline health and care workers

P Residents of care homes for older adults

P All adults aged 50 or over

P All those aged between 16 and 49 with underlying conditions that put them at higher risk of severe Covid-19, and adult carers

P Household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals

The government stated: ’The timing of the rollout is planned to maximise individual protection against severe illness and to prevent adding substantially to the winter pressures faced by health and care services.

’In addition, the JCVI advises that where possible, seasonal flu vaccinations for those eligible can be given at the same time, with no loss in the immune response generated by either vaccine.

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’In line with JCVI advice, the mRNA vaccines Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty®) and Moderna (Spikevax®) will be used in the booster programme, irrespective of which vaccine was used for the primary course.

’Where these cannot be used, the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine (Vaxzevria®) will be offered as an alternative.’

The Island’s booster programme will be rolled out to eligible groups in largely the same order as in Phase 1 of the primary vaccination programme, with flexibility built in to maximise efficiency.

The government emphasised that it is important that the Covid-19 booster is given at least six months after the second vaccination. Anyone who is eligible for a booster but who had their second dose less than six months ago will be invited for a booster six months after their second dose.