Vaccination response from JCVI

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is currently not recommending routine vaccination for all children and young people under the age of 16 years. In line with the JCVI, Jersey’s vaccination programme is offering COVID19 vaccination to all young people aged 16+ years. The JCVI have advised that children and young people aged 12-15 years can now receive their COVID-19 vaccination if they: 

 1. have specific underlying health conditions that put them at risk of serious COVID-19 or 

2. live with immunosuppressed adults or children   

The specific underlying health conditions enabling children between 12 and 15 to be vaccinated includes those with: 

• severe neurodisabilities  
• Down’s syndrome 
• underlying conditions resulting in immunosuppression 
• profound and multiple learning disabilities, severe learning disabilities or who are on the learning disability register 

Vaccination for these groups is focused on protecting vulnerable Islanders, both directly and indirectly, where the JCVI has confirmed that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh any potential risks. 

The Government of Jersey has always maintained that vaccination is a personal choice. Currently, the only communication which will be sent out to students from Head teachers will be for those students who are aged 16-17 years old. At this age, young people are able to legally consent for medical treatment. The Government of Jersey do not have plans to directly communicate to students under 16 years old.