Letters inviting residents aged between 75 and 79 to book their vaccination appointments are currently being delivered.

It marks the next phase of the Department of Health and Social Care’s Covid-19 vaccination programme.

More than 70% of the top two priority groups have received their first jab and nearly 12,000 jabs have been administered in total.

The letter, which includes an information leaflet, invites individuals to register in the first instance with 111 and they will be contacted by the 111 team with appointment details. The DHSC said this can sometimes be at short notice, in order to avoid wastage of vaccine and to maximise the health benefits for older and vulnerable people.

Separate home vaccination appointments can be made for those who are housebound, and the 111 team are also offering support to regular users of patient transport services who do not have a carer, relative or friend who can bring them to the vaccination hub. Invitation letters to the extremely clinically vulnerable and their carers, and the over-70s are due to be issued over the next 10 days. Residents are asked not to call 111 until they receive their invitation letter.

More information is available on the government website: www.gov.im/covidvaccination.