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The Government has confirmed that islanders under the age of 30 will be offered alternatives to the AstraZeneca vaccine following “extremely rare” reports of blood clots.
However, they said that anyone who has received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will receive the same vaccine for the second dose, regardless of their age.
The announcement follows recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
In a statement released on Wednesday, Professor Wei Shen Lim, Covid-19 Chair for JCVI, said that based on the available data and evidence, it was “preferable” for adults aged under 30 with no underlying conditions to be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine where available.
“This weighs up the risks of being seriously ill or dying from covid-19 against the extremely small risk of a serious adverse event,” he added.
Pictured: Dr Ivan Muscat, the Deputy Medical Officer for Health moved to reassure the risk of blood clots following the vaccine was “very low".
Dr Ivan Muscat, the Deputy Medical Officer for Health, moved to reassure the risk of blood clots following the vaccine was “very low” – some "one in 250,000 doses of vaccine”.
“Age has always been the defining factor in assessing the risk from covid,” he said. “The benefit/risk ratio above the age of 30 is very much in favour of vaccination. All medical interventions are a balance between the risk of treating or preventing disease on the one hand, and the risk of no intervention and the disease itself on the other.
“Islanders who have already received their first Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, whether under or over 30 years old, need not be concerned and do not need to seek healthcare unless they have leg swelling, shortness of breath, pain in their chest or abdomen, bruising beyond the vaccination site or neurological symptoms such as prolonged headache or confusion, especially if occurring within 14 days of vaccination. If this is the case, they should seek medical advice without delay.”
Dr Muscat said covid-19 remains “a very real threat with the potential for a third wave lingering across Europe” and urged older islanders to protect themselves by getting vaccinated as soon as they can.
Pictured: The Moderna vaccine should be in the island next week.
Becky Sherrington, the Head of Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, said that in light of the updated guidance, the vaccine schedule for islanders under 30 years old had been revised.
She said that with the arrival of the Moderna vaccine in the island next week, as well as continued supply of Pfizer vaccine, she was confident there would be enough doses of alternative vaccines “to continue to vaccinate at pace”.
“Islanders can therefore be reassured that we will continue with our Phase 1 vaccination roll out to protect people from the risks of COVID-19. This news will not affect the longer term roll out of Jersey’s Vaccination Programme for Phase 2, as we open up appointments to Islanders aged 40-49.”
Appointments for 45 to 49-year-olds opened for booking yesterday, and the first doses should be administered to this group from Sunday 11 April.
Meanwhile, the 40 to 44-year-olds, will be able to book from Monday 12 April with vaccination taking place from Wednesday, 14 April.
Appointments remain open to islanders currently eligible for vaccines (50+, high risk and moderate risk). Bookings for first doses can be made online and appointments for second doses are by invitation only.
“I’m pleased we are able to open these appointments this week,” Ms Sherrington said. “It’s important islanders are vaccinated to protect themselves and those around them.”
Meanwhile second doses continue to be rolled out alongside first dose appointments.So far, over 22,000 second doses have been administered.
“We want to ensure the programme continues to operate efficiently, wastage is minimised, and Islanders are receiving the correct vaccine,” Ms Sherrington explained.
“We are therefore batching appointments based on the vaccine type we have available so we can vaccinate large groups, over a short period of time. This means you could be called for your second dose anytime between week 4- 12. Our vaccination team are monitoring the interval times to ensure we administer second doses by the 12-week mark.
“We please ask islanders to be patient and await their given appointments. There is no need to call the helpline about this.”
For those who are eligible, vaccination appointments can be made online. When booking appointments, the following information should be available: name, address, phone number, social security number, date of birth.
Alternatively, bookings can be made by calling the covid helpline on 08800 735 5566.
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