Gibraltar Health Authority announces COVID-19 vaccination booster programme
The GHA will start scheduling booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine for all people aged 50 and over in Gibraltar once supplies arrive.
A statement continued: “The UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has announced that a single booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is recommended to be given, initially to everyone aged 50 and over, six months after their second dose of the vaccine. Following this announcement, the Medical Director and Director of Public Health for the Gibraltar Health Authority have now recommended to the Gibraltar Government that this advice should be implemented locally. Booster vaccinations will be scheduled once the necessary supply of Pfizer BioNtech vaccine is delivered from the UK. In addition to all people aged 50 and over in Gibraltar being offered a booster dose, all front-line health and care staff, anyone aged 12-49 with an underlying serious health condition, and people living with anyone who is immunosuppressed will also receive a booster in the first round.”
Minister of Health and Care, Samantha Sacramento, said: “Now that the JCVI has determined it is appropriate for booster vaccinations to be given to people over 50 plus some other groups and our Medical Director Dr Krishna Rawal and our Director of Public Health Dr Helen Carter have advised that it is safe and appropriate to proceed with these booster doses in Gibraltar, I can confirm that the GHA will be implementing the plans for booster vaccinations as soon as we receive vaccine supplies from the UK. The UK Government have once again confirmed that all necessary supplies of the vaccine will be made available to Gibraltar to allow the booster programme to be completed and our grateful thanks are due to the UK for this continued support.”
Dr Helen Carter, Director of Public Health for Gibraltar added: “The vaccination programme is helping to save lives and greatly reduce the hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19. Vaccinations are a key step in terms of helping us live with and beyond COVID-19 and allow many aspects of normal life to return. Booster doses will help ensure that our older and more vulnerable people will continue to benefit from maximum protection as we head into this winter.”
