COVID-19 vaccination for the public
Updated 27 January 2021
As at Wednesday 27 January 2021, we have carried out:
- 701 vaccinations today
- 635 in the vaccinations hub
- 66 in care homes
- 303 total first doses today
- 398 total second doses today
- Cumulative total of first dose vaccinations is now 4,550
- Cumulative total of second dose vaccinations is now 1037
The Department of Health and Social (DHSC) are leading the delivery for the Isle of Man’s COVID-19 vaccination programme which commenced on Monday 4 January 2021.
Vaccinations have started to increase from Newlands (Old Ward 20) building on the Noble's Estate and also within some of the island's cares homes. Commencing today 18 January 2021 vaccines will start to be delivered to those in Residential Homes.
A hub site has been set up ready at Ronaldsway Airport and the existing Newlands facility will relocate to Chester Street, Old Shoprite building in due course. This will improve parking and access for residents attending their vaccines in due course, we will keep you informed as this programme continues to progress.
There are now three approved COVID-19 vaccines licensed for use within the UK and Isle of Man. These have been shown to be effective in clinical trials and have a good safety record.
The COVID-19 Vaccine is given as two separate doses, after receiving the first vaccine the second will delivered either 3 weeks (21 days) later for Pfizer/BioNTech or 4 weeks (28 days) later for Oxford/AstraZeneca.
The vaccine is offered first to those at highest risk of catching the infection and of suffering serious complications if they catch the infection.
This includes older adults, frontline health and social care workers, care home residents and staff, and those with certain clinical conditions. When more vaccine becomes available, the vaccines will be offered to other people at risk as soon as possible.
Invitations are in the process of being sent out to the following priority groups:
- residents in care homes and staff who work there
- health and care workers
- those aged over 80
- 4 January: First individual vaccinated with Pfizer vaccine & Newlands/Ward 20 vaccination hub operational
- 6 January: More than 1,000 people vaccinated
- 11 January: Dispatch begins of 4,000+ letters to over-80's inviting them to register for their first jab. Registration begins for over-80's and appointments being booked
- 13 January: More than 2,000 people vaccinated
- 18 January: First care home resident vaccinated and first Oxford vaccine administered. Two vaacines now in continuous use - Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca
- 21 January: Airport hub is completed and handed over to DHSC
- 25 January: Vaccination rollout to nursing home residents Island wide. Fisrt individual vaccinated with second dose
- 28 January: Airport hub is due to open for vaccinations
- Late February: Douglas, Chester Street community vaccination hub due to open
- End of February: Those in top two priority groups received first vaccination
- May: Residents in the phase 1 priority group will have been vaccinated by the end of May (approximated 42,000)
- By September: Residents in the phase 2 priority group will have been vaccinated by the end of September (approximated 30,000)
Where possible we have provided links to leaflets in other languages and provided British Sign Language videos to support accessibility.
In the meantime please read:
COVID-19 Vaccination a guide for Older Adults (PDF, 1543KB)
PLEASE wait to be contacted:
The DHSC will let you know when it's your turn to have the vaccine.
If you are not in any of the above groups, it's important that you don't contact the COVID 111 service, or other health services to ask about receiving this vaccination before it’s your turn. The reason for this is not to overload the health and social care services with enquiries for those that need to use them.
As the UK releases vaccine and trays are received 2 doses are set aside for those entitled to receive them. The DHSC are working with many health professionals to ensure that the correct legislation, licences, regulations, safety protocols and supporting health professionals are in place in order to deliver the COVID-19 to everyone in the Isle of Man.
The priority group order will be the same as that set out by Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation: advice on priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
When will I receive my vaccine?
The DHSC is in the process of sending out invitation letters to all of those residents aged over 80 years. These will be sent out in batches and you should expect to receive your letter in the next 10 working days. Initially we are requesting only those who can make their own way to the vaccination centre call 111 at this time, we will contact those that cannot shortly.
When you receive your invitation letter, you will need to call the COVID 111 service to arrange your two vaccination appointments
You will also be asked on arrival to complete a consent form to receive this vaccine.
See: consent form (PDF, 214 KB)
From now until mid-March invitations will be sent out to following priority groups to receive the COVID-19 vaccine:
- residents in care homes and staff who work there
- health and care workers
- those aged over 80
You can download the visual Isle of Man COVID-19 Vaccination Time line.
Receiving the vaccine may help protect you from coronavirus, but it is still important to follow hand and respiratory hygiene advice to keep each other safe.
After you have had the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine you will need to plan for attending for your second appointment. You will be issued with a record card and your next appointment should be between 3 and 12 weeks after your first dose.
It is important to have both doses of the vaccine to give you the best protection.
If you are not in one of the above groups, please be patient and wait until you are invited to register for the vaccine.
Poster showing first phase priority groups’ poster (PDF, 362KB)
Why do I have to wait?
By mid-March the DHSC aims to have delivered both doses to the following groups:
- residents in care homes and staff who work there
- health and care workers
- those aged over 80.
From March the programme will then be extended to these priority groups:
- those aged over 75 years
- those aged over 70 years
- adults on the IoM DHSC shielded patient list
- those aged over 65 years
- adults under 65 years with long term conditions
- those aged 50-64
This the biggest vaccination programme the island has seen and your patience and understanding as this programme is rolled out is appreciated.
Further details on waiting for your vaccine can be viewed in this information leaflet
'COVID-19 Vaccination: Why do I have to wait? DL (PDF, 994KB)
What to expect at my vaccination appointment
If you are invited to attend ‘Newlands’ to receive your vaccine this building is located behind Nobles Hospital Emergency Department drive past this entrance, continue straight ahead and turn into the next car park ahead of you, the old Ward 20 ‘Newlands’ building is on your left. Please also remember to take some form of personal identification to your appointment with you.
On arrival you will be asked to complete a Consent Form
You will be asked some questions
You will then be taken to a vaccinator to receive your vaccine
Your vaccine details and information will be logged and you will return again for your second vaccine in 3 to 12 weeks’ time.
An appointment card will be handed to you along with the patient information leaflet on the vaccine.
Care Homes and Residential Homes
Separate vaccination teams are visiting these settings to deliver COVID-19 Vaccines to these priority groups.
What to expect after your vaccination?
Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects.
Most of these are mild and short-term, and not everyone gets them. Even if you do have symptoms after the first dose, you still need to have the second dose. Although you may get some protection from the first dose, having the second dose will give you the best protection against the virus.
Very common side effects include:
- having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection. This tends to be worst around 1-2 days after the vaccine
- Feeling tired
- Headache
- General aches, or mild flu like symptoms
Although feeling feverish is not uncommon for two to three days, a high temperature is unusual and may indicate you have COVID-19 or another infection. You can rest and take the normal dose of paracetamol (follow the advice in the packaging) to help you feel better.
Symptoms following vaccination normally last less than a week. If your symptoms seem to get worse or if you are concerned, call your GP or Practice Nurse.
If you do seek advice from a doctor or nurse, make sure you tell them about your vaccination (show them the vaccination card if possible) so that they can assess you properly. You can also report suspected side effects to vaccines and medicines through the Yellow Card scheme
For more details on this vaccine please read
Read ‘COVID-19 Vaccination: What to expect? DL (PDF, 993KB) for more information on side effects.
Or refer back to the COVID-19 Vaccination a guide for Older Adults (PDF, 1543KB)
All women of childbearing age, those currently pregnant or breastfeeding
All women of childbearing age, those currently pregnant or breastfeeding should please refer to the link below:
All women of childbearing age, those currently pregnant or breastfeeding factsheet
Your GP, Practice Nurse, Midwife or the Integrated Women, Children and families service can also provide further help.
Isle of Man Government - Integrated Women, Children and Families Service
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
The Department of Health and Social Care have set out an extensive list of information about the vaccine, our rollout programme and a range of related issues - follow this link for more details.
Accessibility – UK Public Health England – BSL Video Files
Why you are being asked to wait
Older Adults vaccination programme
Translations - UK Public Health England documents
Public Health England has produced copies of their documents in other languages.
These new documents explain the COVID-19 vaccination, who is eligible and who needs to have the vaccine to protect them from coronavirus (COVID-19).
Translated copies are available in these languages Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Spanish, Tagalog, Turkish to download and more languages will be available soon.
For access see:
Why are you being asked to wait leaflet
Vaccination guide for older adults
Women of Childbearing age, currently pregnant or breastfeeding
Disclaimer:The contents of these translated documents may differ slightly from local literature produced to support the Isle of Man COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.
Further information on COVID-19 licensed vaccines
Approved on 2 December
Information on Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
Approved on 30 December
Information on Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
Manx Radio: Update from the Director of Public Health, Henrietta Ewart on the Oxford vaccine approval.
Approved on 8 January 2021
Information on Moderna vaccine
Manx Radio: Update from Health Minister David Ashford on availability of the Moderna vaccine in the Isle of Man
For an overview on COVID-19 Vaccines please see
Your Privacy
Department of Health and Social Care
Is committed to protecting your privacy and will only process personal confidential data in accordance with Data Protection Act 2018, the Data Protection (Application of GDPR) Order 2018, the Common Law Duty of Confidentiality and the Human Rights Act 2001.
For more details on how they do this visit the DHSC Privacy page.
Cabinet Office, Public Health Directorate
For details on how the Public Health Directorate, Cabinet office uses and protects your personal information view the Cabinet Office Privacy Notice
