The first vaccination clinics are being held in Douglas this week for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Those in this age group can now receive their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

One dose has been offered to healthy 16- and 17-year-olds as advised by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Clinics will be open for these individuals on Saturday, August 21, from 11am to 3pm and Tuesday, August 24 from 2.30pm to 4pm.

Both of these clinics will be held at Chester Street vaccination hub in Douglas.

Young people aged 16- and 17-years-old who are household contacts of an immunosuppressed person will be offered two doses of the vaccine in line with the adult rollout and will be invited to register in the coming days.

Seventeen-year-olds who are within three months of turning 18 will be offered a second dose appointment which will be confirmed shortly after their first dose.

Individuals wanting to attend these clinics can arrive without a booking but they will need to ensure they are already registered with 111 before attending.

All attending are asked to bring proof of identification with them.

Those who arrive and are not pre-registered with 111 will have to wait and may risk not being vaccinated on that day.

David Ashford, the Health and Social Care Minister, said: ’It’s welcome that the vaccine is now available to 16- and 17-year-olds. It will provide an extra layer to our vaccine protection on island.’