22 October 2009
People in Jersey are being urged not to call their GP for the swine flu vaccine but to wait until they are contacted by their surgery.
GPs will be offering free swine flu vaccines to patients with underlying medical conditions and chronic disease. They will write to their patients in order of priority, starting with the youngest people first.
The Health and Social Services Department began the swine flu vaccination programme on Tuesday. Other priority groups in the first phase include pregnant women, household contacts of patients whose medical conditions particularly compromise their immune system and health care workers.
Medical Officer of Health, Dr Rosemary Geller, said :”We have ordered enough vaccine for all Islanders and eventually everyone will be offered the vaccine. At this stage of the programme, there are priority groups and everyone in these groups will be contacted either by their GP or by the hospital.
“The swine flu vaccine is free for all Islanders. Anyone who is contacted by their GP and offered swine flu vaccine at their surgery will not have to pay a consultation fee.”
Pregnant women are being contacted by the maternity unit and will be offered the vaccine at the General Hospital from Monday 26 October.
gov.je