Guernsey’s Public Health Services have received a number of queries from parents asking whether their children, who are studying in the UK, can be vaccinated before they return to the UK.
Students are entitled to the vaccine in the UK, and in the Bailiwick, when their age group opens up. It is not possible for the Bailiwick to bring forward vaccinations outside of the agreed priority order.
We are still in Phase 1 of our vaccination programme which means that any student, who has an underlying health condition that meets the criteria for priority groups 4 and 6 of the programme will be offered the vaccine whilst they are in the Bailiwick. All other students will have to wait until we move into phase 2 of the vaccination programme – those aged between 18 and 49 years of age with no underlying health conditions.
If students have returned to the UK by the time we enter Phase 2 of the programme, the following advice applies:
- Any person who has an NHS number, is registered with a GP and is eligible will be able to access the vaccine – this includes anyone from a Crown Dependency.
- You need a GP record/NHS number to use the national booking service (website and call centre) to make those vaccination appointments.
- The national booking line requires name, date of birth and postcode.
It is possible for a student to have their first dose of the vaccine in the Bailiwick and then receive the second dose where they are studying if the gap between doses means that they will have returned to the UK in the meantime. Students will need to advise on booking that they need a second dose appointment.
