Friday 19 April 2024
Select a region
News

No current plans to wind down Fort Vaccination Centre

No current plans to wind down Fort Vaccination Centre

Tuesday 17 May 2022

No current plans to wind down Fort Vaccination Centre

Tuesday 17 May 2022


Fort Regent’s Queen’s Hall will remain the island’s main covid vaccination centre for the foreseeable future, despite far fewer people now getting jabbed.

In line with current guidance from the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), a fourth dose – the ‘spring booster’ – is only being offered to islanders aged 75 years old and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and anyone aged 12 and over who is immunosuppressed.

According to the latest statistics, 3,670 islanders aged 80 or over have received a fourth dose, 69% of that population. 

Meanwhile, 2,487 people aged 75-79 have had their fourth jab, which is 75% of that age-bracket. It then drops to just 203 islanders in the 70-74 age group, or 4%.

In total, 793 islanders aged under 75 have received a spring booster.

The Government said it was maintaining a ‘core’ team at the Fort to administer the vaccines - they did not state how many people this was.

A spokesperson said: “We are intending to continue using Fort Regent to offer covid vaccinations to all eligible islanders. 

“The Vaccination Centre will remain at Fort Regent to ensure Jersey’s vaccination programme is able to stand up at pace any new vaccination offer as recommended by the JCVI.

“We have a core workforce which allows us the flexibility and efficiency to continue offering vaccination to our housebound islanders, care home residents and in addition, we continue to see a number of islanders coming forward for their first, second and booster doses.”

vaccinevaccination.jpg

Pictured: Jersey is following UK guidance on the application of spring boosters.

They added: “Vaccination is the most important intervention against covid, and the Government continues to promote the spring booster to all islanders who are eligible, including information about vaccination in an island-wide leaflet which was delivered to all households in Jersey recently.

“In addition to spring boosters, Government continues to promote the ongoing offer of first, second and booster doses. Jersey’s vaccination programme continues to follow the guidance from the JCVI.”

Meanwhile, a clinic set up earlier this year to support islanders with long covid has seen 81 patients, with 151 being referred.

There have been 106 appointments attended, which includes some patients going more than once.

There are 372 long covid patients currently listed by GPs in the primary care system.

In January, the Government launched its de-escalation strategy to wind down covid restrictions. 

One of the last major restrictions, mandatory isolation, finished at the end of last month. 

Sign up to newsletter

 

Comments

Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.

You have landed on the Bailiwick Express website, however it appears you are based in . Would you like to stay on the site, or visit the site?