And over-80s could begin to receive the Pfizer vaccine as soon as next week, with appointments due to open for bookings.
This week, the British-made Oxford vaccine became the second to be approved, after the Pfizer BioNTech version was given the go-ahead by UK regulators on 2 December.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he thought the roll-out of the Oxford jab would ‘speed up very substantially’ the time it would take to vaccinate vulnerable people.
The newly approved vaccine is relatively cheap, costing around £3 per dose, and can be stored at a standard fridge temperature, while the Pfizer version has to be kept at -70°C.
The UK government has secured 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine and Jersey will receive a share of that as part of procurement agreements the Island has in place with the NHS.
Becky Sherrington, the Government of Jersey’s vaccination programme lead, welcomed the news that the jab had been approved.
‘This is excellent news for Jersey and will add support to our ongoing vaccination programme, which is continuing at pace,’ she said.
‘We will update Islanders on the roll-out of the Oxford vaccine once it is arrives from the UK and is ready for use in the Island.’
Chief Minister John Le Fondré said in a tweet yesterday: ‘Today’s great news on the approval of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine means we will be able to ramp up our vaccination programme in the coming weeks and months, ensuring more Islanders are immunised against Covid-19 sooner.’
Vaccinations have been carried out in Jersey so far in care homes for residents and care workers.
Ms Sherrington said that from next week it was hoped the programme would be extended to the most elderly Islanders and appointments would be available online.
‘Next week we aim to open up bookings for the 80s and over and begin vaccinating them with the Pfizer vaccine,’ she said.
‘I ask Islanders to be ready to support their elderly family, friends, and neighbours when the online booking system goes live next week for the 80s and over.’
Jersey will roll out vaccines to different groups in the following order:
- care home residents and care workers
- those aged over 80 years
- other health and social workers
- over 75s
- over 70s
- high risk Islanders
- over 65s
- under 65s with long term conditions
- 50 to 64 year-olds
- rest of the population
