'111 line for booking jabs - not clinical queries'

Anyone with clinical questions about Covid-19 vaccinations should ask their GP or check online and not ask the 111 service.

Government is reminding people the 111 line is for registering people for jabs and booking vaccine appointments and is not able to offer clinical guidance on the matter.

Officials say if you have a query to check details about the vaccination programme at www.gov.im/covidvaccination or contact your GP.

When it is their turn, people will receive a letter from the Department of Health and Social Care inviting them to call 111 to register. 

Once this is complete, a member of the 111 team will usually call the person back with an appointment for one or both vaccinations. 

If slots are free when the personal calls to register, appointments may be made during that call - an email or letter is then set to confirm appointments and this should be brought to the vaccination centre.

Health and Social Care Minister, David Ashford MHK, says: "It is natural that people want to raise questions about the vaccination before they go for their jab. This is new territory for us all and I understand people have questions. However, these questions are not for the 111 team to answer, as they are not clinicians.

"A growing number of clinical queries are being inappropriately raised by callers to 111, which is delaying the team’s essential work. 

"Please, if you have any clinical questions about being vaccinated, seek professional advice from your GP and for all other queries, refer to the gov.im website."