05 March 2021
Like my fellow ministers, I want us to be able to reconnect and resume normal life as soon as possible.
But it is critical that we follow the stages set out in this roadmap, so we can move forwards proportionately and safely, and avoid having to change course, or even backtrack, because of an uncontrolled increase in cases.
Our vaccination programme IS moving ahead at pace, and we have now delivered a first dose to more than thirty thousand Islanders.
Among those who have received their first dose so far are:
- Almost 100% of Islanders over the age of 80
- 95% of care home residents and 83% of care home staff.
- And over 93% of those aged 70-79.
- And below those ages we have had an 81% take up of the vaccine amongst people at clinically high risk.
These figures represent a comprehensive rollout to our Island’s most vulnerable people and I want to thank everyone who has come forward to be vaccinated. Vaccination not only enhances protection from Covid in individuals, it also slows the spread of the virus in the community and reduces pressure on hospital and front line services.
But we must remember, the vaccine reaches its maximum effect a few weeks after receiving a second dose. Most people will not reach that point for many weeks yet and they will still have a vulnerability. So we must not think and behave as if we have beaten Covid. It is important – vital - that we continue to observe the public health restrictions and guidance and follow the stages of the Road Map and I ask all Islanders to join together to keep Jersey in a safe place.
From Monday, Islanders aged 50-54 will be able to book an appointment to receive their first dose. This is the last group of Islanders who will be vaccinated in phase 1 of our vaccination programme. I continue to be extremely proud of the progress the vaccination team has made in such a short space of time and thank them for their dedication, hard work and the reassuring welcome they give to those receiving the vaccine.
As we near the end of phase 1 of the programme, the vaccination team will be moving on to deliver second doses of the vaccine.
Islanders over 80 who were vaccinated with their first dose between ten and twelve weeks ago have begun to receive text messages or emails from the vaccination programme team with a date and time for their second dose vaccination.
If - when booking your first appointment - you used the phone or email account of a family member, a friend, a parish or a charitable organisation, please contact them as they are likely to have received this follow-up text or email on your behalf.
We are now starting to look ahead to phase 2 of Jersey’s vaccination programme. Last week the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation provided their interim phase 2 recommendations for vaccinating people under 50 years old. We are currently reviewing these recommendations to help inform the next stage of the vaccine programme for Jersey - details of which will be announced in the coming weeks.
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