Thank you for contacting me about the vaccine roll out on the Isle of Wight.
I am pleased that the Riverside Centre is now open for business, meaning up to 500 vaccines per day can be administered at this site alone. This site will be operating in addition to other locations already up and running including the four GP-led sites of Westridge Centre, Carisbrooke Health Centre, The Bay and West Wight Sports Centre. I thank everyone who has been involved in the setting up of these sites.
It has been brought to my attention that some people are experiencing problems when trying to book appointments with only mainland sites showing as available.
I am reassured by the management team from the IW Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) that Islanders will be able to receive their vaccination on the Island.
If you are unable to book an appointment on the Island, the national booking system may offer you an appointment on the mainland as an alternative. You should ignore this and continue to check the booking system regularly as more slots on the Isle of Wight will become available.
Everyone will need an appointment to get their vaccine and most people will be notified by letter when it is their turn to be vaccinated. They will then be able to go onto the national booking system and book an appointment slot or call 119.
I would like to reiterate that Islanders should NOT be travelling to the mainland to receive their jabs. I would urge everyone to wait for an Island slot to become available. Please do not telephone your GP but await your letter or telephone call.
I am hugely grateful to everyone involved with the vaccine rollout and hope that we can start planning a return to a new normal.
