Jersey's Fort Regent to become mass Covid-19 vaccination centre
The roll out of a Covid vaccination programme in Jersey could begin next month.
All over 18s, except pregnant women, will be eligible for the jab.
Initially, staff and residents of care homes will get the vaccine in December if authorities in the UK approve a vaccine by then.
In January, over 80s, healthcare staff and islanders considered at highest risk, starting with the oldest, will be next in the queue.
The vaccine will be given by registered practitioners including GPs, nurses, paramedics and dentists at a mass vaccine centre at Fort Regent.
The venue has been chosen as it will allow enough space to remain Covid-secure. Those who are unwell will be told not to attend and the wearing of masks will be mandatory.
Care home residents will be visited by a mobile unit and there will be an additional vaccination unit at the hospital for health workers.
The option of delivering the vaccine via GPs, as per the seasonal flu programme, was ruled out on practicality grounds.
While no specific date has been fixed for the rollout, the island's Head of Vaccine Delivery Becky Sherrington says her team have the resources in place to deliver it before the end of December.
The island's Chief Pharmacist is working with UK colleagues to ensure the transportation and cold chain is secure, with real time temperature tracking to ensure no vaccines go to waste.
A specialist refrigeration unit was purchased earlier in the year in anticipation of the vaccine’s arrival and is already on-island.