21 October 2020
More than 13,000 flu vaccinations have been delivered to eligible Islanders so far, with some groups showing record uptake rates since the vaccine was launched at the end of last month.
Medical experts launched this year's flu vaccination with the added urgency for Islanders to get the vaccination due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the additional protection it offers.
Priority groups have been vaccinated throughout October. This year, the flu vaccine is free for Islanders falling within the agreed priority groups, including:
- clinical risk group as identified by GPs including pregnant women, Islanders aged 65 or over or a care home resident, babies from 6 months to 2 years
- children aged 2-4
- primary and secondary schoolchildren
- health care workers, including care home staff and home carers
Associate Medical Director for Prevention, Primary and Intermediate Care, Dr Adrian Noon said: “Over 2,000 school children from eight primary schools have been vaccinated so far, which is a 10% increase on last year’s figures. Since the start of this week, GPs and pharmacists have vaccinated 10,000 patients of all ages who were identified as being high risk. More than 1,000 health staff have been vaccinated already, of which 658 are patient facing. This already represents a record number of vaccinations.
“I’d like to thank those who have received their vaccine for being part of the Island’s fight against COVID and those who have worked hard to administer the vaccine so efficiently over the past few weeks. The vaccine will continue to be made available to all Islanders over the next few months and I urge all Islanders to get themselves vaccinated.”
Flu and COVID symptoms, although similar, do have notable differences. If anyone experiences a fever alongside a continuous cough and lack of taste and smell, they must isolate and call the COVID Helpline on 445566.
gov.je