COVID-19 vaccinations

The COVID-19 vaccination programme has begun on the Isle of Wight. There are three approved COVID-19 vaccines that include Pfizer/BioNtech, Oxford/AstraZeneca and Modena.

The vaccines approved for use in the UK have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness set out by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Information about the COVID-19 vaccines is available on the NHS website. 

The priority order of vaccinations being delivered has been set nationally by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and not a decision that is made locally.

At the moment the vaccine is being administered first to those most at risk, including:

• people aged 80 an over
• people who live or work in care homes
• health and social care workers

The NHS will let you know when it's your turn to have the vaccine. Please ensure you are registered with a GP in England. People will need an appointment to get their vaccine; most people will be invited by letter from their GP practice or the national programme. It's important not to contact the NHS for a vaccination before then.

The Island has several COVID-19 vaccination sites that will include The Riverside Centre, in Newport, which is due to go live shortly. This additional centre will mean that even more people across the island will be able to get vaccinated.

The Riverside Centre will join four other GP-led vaccine sites that are already in operation on the island. A full list of the vaccination sites are found at the bottom of this page.

A COVID-19 vaccination hub at St Mary’s Hospital has been set up solely to vaccinate the island's NHS and social care staff.

Alison Smith, managing director of NHS Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The opening of a vaccination centre on the island is great news for our residents as this will greatly increase our capacity to vaccinate people.

“Setting up the COVID-19 vaccination programme has been an enormous undertaking and the way that we have pulled together to make this happen has been fantastic.

“I absolutely need to pay tribute to all colleagues and volunteers. They have been phenomenal in pulling together and setting our clinics up with such speed and efficiency. I want to say a big thank you to them for all their hard work and share how proud I am of my colleagues for their incredible efforts.

“As we accelerate our vaccination programme, we remain focused on delivering to our over 80 year olds, care homes and those working for health and care.

“We still have COVID-19 circulating in our communities and so we need to do all we can to keep ourselves and each other safe.

“I remind everyone to continue to wash their hands for 20 seconds regularly, to wear a face covering when required and to maintain social distancing of two metres.”

Sites across the Isle of Wight are: