COVID-19 vaccination programme vaccine update: 02 November 2021

Our COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy for Wales  was published on 11 January 2021 and together with the below updates, sets out the detail of the Vaccination Programme in Wales.

• COVID-19 vaccination strategy update February 2021
• COVID-19 vaccination strategy update March 2021
• COVID-19 vaccination strategy update June 2021
• COVID-19 vaccination strategy for autumn and winter 2021

Our strategy is focused on 3 key areas:

• Our priorities – we continue to work closely with the UK Government on supply. Based on what we know about supply and the priority cohorts set by the JCVI, we have set key milestones.
• Our vaccination infrastructure - making sure that people can access their vaccination offer - the places to go to get vaccinated, people to give the vaccination and the appointment and digital recording and reporting system set up.
• Keeping up to date and informed about the vaccination programme - we are committed to providing information to keep everyone in Wales updated about the vaccination programme.

We have achieved the following two commitments from our Vaccination Strategy for Autumn and Winter where we said by 1 November we would aim to have offered:

• a COVID-19 vaccination to all 12-15 year olds; and 
• a booster vaccination to all eligible care home residents 

The decision to have a COVID-19 vaccine is a choice for each individual to make. It is important to discuss your choice as a family and look for information from trusted sources, like Public Health Wales. 

12-15 year olds could either attend at a time allocated in their appointment letters or at walk-in clinics. We will continue to make the offer available to those who have not yet been able to take up the vaccine. If you are between 12-15 years old and have not received your invitation you can contact your local health board to arrange an appointment, details are available here. 

If you get COVID-19 and are due to have your COVID-19 vaccination, you need to wait 28 days before having the vaccine, this is so that COVID-19 infection symptoms cannot be confused with post-vaccine symptoms.

Health boards are working hard towards our next aim. By 31 December we aim to have vaccinated the majority of people eligible for a booster. Those who are eligible for a booster will automatically receive an invitation to attend an appointment when it is their turn.

From the 11 October, the Covid Pass is compulsory for everyone attending:

• nightclubs and similar venues
• indoor non-seated events for more than 500 people. This would include conventions and concerts
• outdoor non-seated events for more than 4,000 people
• any setting or event for more than 10,000 people, such as a rugby or football match

The COVID Pass confirms your vaccination status or that you have had a negative lateral flow test result within the past 48 hours. If you are registered with a GP in the UK, were vaccinated in Wales or England and are aged 16 or over, you can get a digital NHS COVID Pass.

The First Minister confirmed that (subject to approval from the Senedd) from the 15 November, cinemas, concert halls and theatres will be added to the list of venues that will need to use the COVID Pass.

Guidance to stakeholders can be found using the following link: https://gov.wales/covid-pass-guidance-businesses-and-events-html#section-81928

To access the COVID Pass using a smart phone, a computer or laptop 

Further information and guidance will be made available by the Welsh Government in the near future. The current guidance on accessing the COVID Pass can be found at: https://gov.wales/get-nhs-covid-pass-show-your-vaccination-status-travel
 

Phase 3 of our programme is well underway; we are administering vaccination as follows:

• First doses for remaining adults aged 18 and over so that no one is left behind
• Initial dose for young people aged 16 and 17
• First doses for children aged 12 to 15 
• Second doses for all those who are eligible
• Third primary dose for the severely immunosuppressed
• Booster doses for those who are eligible 

As we continue to operate on the principle of no one left behind, the NHS continues to go back and offer those in priority groups 1-9 who have not taken up their offer yet.

Summary of our overall progress:

• In total more than 5.1 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in Wales
• More than 2.44 million people have had a first dose and more than 2.24 million people have received their full course of vaccine
• More than 22,000 people who are severely immunosuppressed have received their third primary dose
• 78.1% of adults aged 18 to 29 and 78.7% of adults aged 30 to 39 have received their first dose
• 74.8% of 16 and 17 year olds have received their initial dose and 45.5% of 12 to 15 year olds have received a first dose
• More than 446,000 people have received a booster
• 69% of care home residents and 55% of care home staff have received their booster dose

The vaccine continues to be the best way to prevent serious illness and the spread of COVID-19 and everyone is urged to take-up their offer of a vaccine. 

The Chief Medical Officer encourages pregnant women to have their COVID-19 vaccine.

Help on how to get your vaccination is available 

Public Health Wales has helpful FAQs on their website about the vaccine and safety, they are also publishing daily and weekly surveillance data releases.

A range of information on our vaccination programme is available on our website, including guidance published relating to the priority groups. 

Welsh Government statisticians are also publishing some of the more operational statistics attached to the programme each week.