Is it right that Covid free Isle of Man and Guernsey receiving vaccines from the UK

[bunwell]

Whilst we are in the midst of this second wave, is it right that vaccines are being sent to Guernsey and the Isle of Man where they have no restrictions and are living a normal life? Surely they can wait a month until we have things under control

@BruceAndNosh

And the islands are about to have several hundreds of Uni students arriving home for Xmas. Their protected bubble might be about to burst.

I live in Guernsey & we have had over 600 students already returned to the Island in the last few weeks. They are all complying with the isolation rules and their return has had hardly any impact on our numbers (we currently have 3 cases, all of whom are isolating). They are checked on regularly and without warning to ensure they are complying. All these students will be able to enjoy a fabulous Christmas with their friends and family & they all appreciate that so much.

Of course we are going to get the occasional case but thanks to our amazing Dr Brink and her guidelines, we are able to keep cases very contained. As a high risk person, I am very grateful for the direction our Government took.

As for the vaccine, Guernsey is a crown dependency & Islanders deserve the vaccine as much as anyone on mainland UK, there are many vulnerable people that live here (& no we are not all wealthy!!). Our health service is very limited & we only have about 7 ICU ventilators, it is critical that we protect our local health service. Our tourist industry has been hit very hard & many people have lost their jobs.

We are very, very lucky to be living in a Bailiwick bubble (along with Herm, Sark & Alderney) however we are also not able to leave the Island (unless you can afford to take 14 days off work on your return). Many people have relatives in the UK that they have not seen for most of the year so the vaccine is just as important for us as any other person in the world!

What about foreign people who are staying in the UK, eh OP?

You forgot to have a bigoted froth about them taking the vaccine from the very arms of dying citizens.

I have elderly close family on island and in the uk. Neither have seen family since early 2020, however island family have no restrictions and full social lives albeit without close family. Uk family are alone and house bound pretty much. Island family will get a vaccine earlier, uk family still locked down at home alone indefinitely severely restricted and hugely deteriorating.

Vaccine should be available to all, but places with low (no) cases should wait as people are dying elsewhere. Absolutely Syria/beirut etc. Should be top of the list, rather than islanders who can mingle freely but want to go to the canaries at Easter!

Why do you islanders deserve a vaccine? Having shut down and drawn the drawbridge up? What have these islands contributed in any way towards this discovery, scientifically, financially or in any way at all?

bunwell what did you contribute financially, scientifically or any way at all towards this discovery?

Bang of Leaver off this op

@bunwell

Why do you islanders deserve a vaccine? Having shut down and drawn the drawbridge up? What have these islands contributed in any way towards this discovery, scientifically, financially or in any way at all?

What a hateful comment.

What have these islands contributed in any way towards this discovery, scientifically, financially or in any way at all?

Gosh. I didn't realise it worked like that.

I thought it was based on need and capacity of services.

Should we be making detailed spreadsheets working out who has contributed what and divvying up the vaccine accordingly?

I find it strange you'll send it to Syria based on this logic...

Getting an easily isolable outpost of our population immune is quite efficient use of the vaccine.

Well aren't you a delight? Some people deserve to live more than others... really?!

In some ways yes the Isle of Man has been fortunate in the way it has dealt with the pandemic, but there are also thousands of people who have not seen their families in months, not seen loved ones before they died, and going through horrific times completely isolated from those they need supporting them.

Zoom and phone calls can only do so much. Seeing someone even from a distance provides much more of a connection.

On these islands some peoples' lives are relatively back to normal, but for others they are basically trapped.

I appreciate your sentiment, but the way you have worded your posts is just hateful.

Channel Islands and Isle of Mann are not part of UK. (as far as I understand)
They are as free as anywhere else to sort their own vaccination programmes out.

@DontStopThinkingAboutTomorrow

Channel Islands and Isle of Mann are not part of UK. (as far as I understand) They are as free as anywhere else to sort their own vaccination programmes out.

So in that logic Northern Ireland should too?

Perhaps educate yourself on the facts before making assumptions.

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom politically and represented in Westminster. Not at all the same thing.

Syria has the disease and much more to content with. Islands as normal, with two weeks quarantine if you wan to join the fun and restriction free life

Everyone deserves the vaccine, especially those who may end up treating positive cases.

Many people cannot see their families whether they are on an island which is low case numbers or free from COVID or on mainland Uk for many reasons - in hospital, in nursing homes, in Wales which did not allow people in etc.

It is horrid for everyone.

Depends how you look at it. They have their own government (in theory) which in this thread seems to be the deciding factor.

Regardless, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man etc are crown dependencies with specific agreements in place.

Plenty of IOM residents were gleefully saying how life was "normal" over there, with no social distancing, theatres open, etc. If that's the case, they're not a priority for the vaccine are they? Especially when we've millions unemployed, theatres/stadia shut for months, etc.

So they reported how life is going for them? I can't see how that's so gleeful. If life is normal, it's come at the expense of the whole island acting as a bubble. Don't be bitter or begrudging just because their setup allows them to do that.

@bunwell

Syria has the disease and much more to content with. Islands as normal, with two weeks quarantine if you wan to join the fun and restriction free life

You clearly haven't read up at all. You can't just decide to go to Guernsey or Isle of Man and just do your two weeks. It's been difficult for island residents to return at times. Many island born people cannot return as they've been away for more than a few months. It's not a free for all to go to an island and do what you want as long as you isolate for two weeks. If you're going to make a point at least do it right.

The vulnerable should be vaccinated first, wherever they are.
Not everyone wants it to begin with anyway, some not at all.

A link to this "gleeful" reporting might help

Either way, the most vulnerable should be vaccinated first

My family are on island, am aware of entry requirements, we have done them! As have they, although once was enough, however we are expected to do frequently

How can you do them frequently?? That's completely against the entry restrictions.

@bunwell

Whilst we are in the midst of this second wave, is it right that vaccines are being sent to Guernsey and the Isle of Man where they have no restrictions and are living a normal life? Surely they can wait a month until we have things under control

You are kidding right?

Or looking for a argument?

Or looking for a news story?

Else do you suggest only those in tier three get the vaccine?

@bunwell now I know you are talking poop.