Health board says 1.18 million Covid vaccines now given across North Wales

A total of 1.18 million Covid vaccines have now been given out across North Wales, the region’s health board has said.

The figure includes 141,446 booster jabs with health staff said to be working “as quickly and safely as possible” to roll out the vaccination programme.

In its latest update, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board advised booster appointments are being sent to people by post in chronological order at least six months after the date the second dose was given.

Ffion Johnstone, the board’s west area director, said six months is only the minimum qualifying gap between the second dose and the booster.

She said people waiting more than six months since their second dose for the booster would not be classed as “overdue” and therefore do not need to contact their GP or the health board as they will automatically receive an invitation.

In the wide-ranging update, she also provided an update on second doses for 16 and 17 year olds.

She said: “On Monday, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended that 16 and 17 year olds are offered a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Second doses will be offered at least 12 weeks after the first dose, unless a young person has had COVID-19 infection since their first dose.

“In this case, they should ideally wait 12 weeks from the onset of symptoms (or their test date – if they were asymptomatic). There is further information on this change in guidance from the JCVI below.

“There is no need to contact us to arrange a second dose as we will automatically invite those eligible by letter at the appropriate time.

“In younger people who have recently had COVID-19, protection is likely to be high for a period of months, and vaccination may increase the chance of side effects.

“The JCVI have therefore advised that following COVID-19 infection, vaccination of any dose should ideally be deferred until at least twelve weeks from the onset of symptoms (or their test date if they were asymptomatic).

“This new guidance applies to all children and young people under 18 years who are not in at risk groups.

“In summary, all individuals below 18 years who are not in at risk groups should receive vaccinations 12 weeks following any COVID-19 infection, or 12 weeks following their last vaccine dose – whichever is most recent.

“Healthy under 18s who are not in an at risk group should ideally call us to rebook a first or second dose, if they have had a positive test within the last 12 weeks, and have already received an appointment letter in the post.

T”o rebook, please call our COVID-19 Vaccination Contact Centre telephone number: 03000 840004. The lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm and Saturday to Sunday, 9am to 2pm.

“Further national guidance on this issue is currently being developed and this will be shared on our website as soon as it is available.”

Discussing booster jabs for those aged 40-49, she said: “The JCVI has also recommended that booster vaccination is extended to 40-49 year olds, provided at least six months have passed since their second dose.

“Because of this six month minimum interval, the vast majority of those aged 40-49 will not become eligible until at least mid-January.

“There is no need to contact us to arrange an appointment, as we will automatically invite you as soon as it is your turn.

“We are continuing to invite people in chronological order at least six months after the date the second dose was given, not necessarily from the oldest to the youngest.”

An up-to-date list of drop in clinics to allow those aged 12-15 to receive a first dose of the vaccine has also been made available on the health board’s website.

In a further update, Ms Johnstone said the size of the workforce available to administer jabs had reduced by around 50 per cent compared to the initial rollout. To address this the health board is continually looking to recruit new staff.

Over 1,300 have responded to the latest recruitment drive and expressed an interest in joining the vaccination teams.