Independent panel set up to discuss vaccine priority list

Monday 01 February 2021

A panel of clinicians joined by a community representative has been established to consider whether some islanders should be receiving their covid-19 vaccines outside of the current priority list.

The island's current vaccination schedule is set in line with recommendations from UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

But the new Panel will consider written requests from healthcare staff and professional bodies as well as from States Members, on behalf of islanders or groups of islanders, but not direct requests from individual members of the public.

It will be chaired by Deputy Medical Director, Paul Hughes, and will include the island’s Chief Pharmacist, Paul McCabe; the Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ivan Muscat; the Associate Medical Director for Primary Care Governance, Dr Adrian Noon; and Citizen's Advice CEO Malcom Ferey.

Jersey’s covid-19 vaccination plan aims to have everyone aged 50+ vaccinated by the end of March. Vaccine appointments are now open to 70-74 year olds and to those with health conditions that put them at high risk of severe illness. 

The latest Government update on vaccination figures on 28 January showed that 86% (890) of Jersey’s care home population had received their first dose, and 76% (785) had received their second.

In addition, 74% (3748) of the island over-80s have now received their first dose, with 11% (540) having received their second.

Pictured: Jersey is following the tier system set up by the UK's JCVI.

Jersey is currently following a tier system based on the prioritisation set by the UK's JCVI but the new panel, set up by the Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Richard Renouf, could look into cases where some islanders would be pushed up the list. 

 “Jersey is privileged to have had access to the covid-19 vaccines and our programme leads have done an incredible job with the roll-out,” the Health Minister explained. 

“We have adopted the vaccination schedule developed by the JCVI, which clearly sets out which groups of people should be vaccinated, in priority order, based on their risk of death or severe illness from covid-19. 

“We recognise, however, that there may be a small number of people who should be offered a vaccine in advance of the JCVI priorities.”

Dr Paul Hughes, who has experience of medical ethics, added: “The Minister has established the Panel so it can make independent decisions on advance vaccination. The Panel will take into account a range of factors when considering exceptions to the JCVI’s priority list. It will seek a clear rationale for diverging from the JCVI priorities, based on risk of transmission and the fairness of providing advance vaccination to some people. 

“The Panel will not approve advance vaccination unless there are enough supplies to avoid delaying the vaccination of those in the JVCI priority groups.”