HEALTH officials in the North of Ireland have urged people to keep coming forward for their Covid-19 vaccine.
It comes after the Joint Committee on Vaccine Immunisation (JCVI) said under-40s were to be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca jab.
The Department of Health has said people aged under 40 in the North of Ireland will be offered the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.
It follows growing concerns around the risk of blood clots among young people receiving the AstraZeneca jab.
The North of Ireland is ahead of the UK in offering vaccinations to people younger than 40.
Almost 20% of those aged 18-29, and almost 43% of those aged between 30-39, have already been vaccinated.
Nearly one million people here have already received their first vaccine dose, and figures indicate people are still keen to be vaccinated.
People who have already received their first jab of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will get their second jab with the same vaccine.
The UK’s medicines safety regulator said there had been 242 clotting cases from 28.5 million doses of the vaccine.
But it said the risk was slightly higher in younger age groups.
Low levels of Coronavirus in the country and the supply of alternative vaccines has also led to the decision being taken.
That means people who are under 40 and have yet to receive their first dose will be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca jab.
The change means some logistical alterations to the North of Ireland’s vaccination programme.
This policy currently applies to those under 30 but the JCVI has decided to move the age threshold after new figures on clots were reported.
The move may affect the UK’s target of offering a first vaccine dose to every adult by the end of July.
The North of Ireland is currently ahead of schedule on its vaccine rollout.
It is understood officials are looking at what is available, and further supplies are expected to arrive here in the next month.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said: “The potential risk associated with the AZ first dose is extremely rare and the threat from Covid-19 is much higher for the majority of adults.
“Getting vaccinated against this virus gives us hope – it protects us and helps us to start reclaim normality.”
He added that he was looking forward to getting his second dose of the AstraZeneca jab and encouraged everyone to “come forward without delay for their first and second jabs when it’s their turn”.
The Department of Health said the AstraZeneca vaccine was still “essential in the successful roll-out of our vaccination programme.
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The benefits of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine still outweigh the risks for the vast majority of adults, said a spokesperson for JCVI and the health regulator the MHRA.
The head of the North’s vaccination programme, Patricia Donnelly, said: “Protecting our adult population through vaccination is a huge and unprecedented undertaking.
“Logistical challenges are inevitable, but the programme has already proved itself to be highly resilient.
“I would again appeal for patience from the public, as we reset the programme in light of the updated JCVI advice.
“Pfizer supplies remain steady but limited, so our progress with the 30-39 age group will be limited for the next few weeks.
“Likewise, those under 30 will have to wait a few weeks before being offered appointments for their first dose.”
From Monday, May 10:
People over the age of 40 can book AstraZeneca first-dose appointments at Belfast’s SSE Arena vaccination centre and community pharmacies
People aged 30-39 can book their Pfizer first dose appointments at the other regional trust vaccination centres such as the Foyle Arena in Derry
People aged 30-39 can opt to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine from participating community pharmacies if they would rather not wait to receive an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine
Anyone younger than 40 already booked for their first vaccine at one of the trust centres, including Foyle Arena, will have this appointment honoured – with the Pfizer vaccine.
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