Provides updated information about the COVID-19 vaccination programme up to 14 December 2021.
Contents
Introduction
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.
What’s new since the last update?
Urgent efforts are now underway to accelerate our COVID-19 booster vaccination programme even further in response to the Omicron variant. New evidence has emerged about the effectiveness of our vaccines against omicron. Two doses of the vaccine is not enough to give the level of protection against infection we all need. The booster dose is vital to keep Wales safe.
We aim to offer all eligible adults a booster appointment by the end of the month. We will vaccinate as many people quickly and safely as possible, continuing to prioritise vaccinations in line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) based on age and clinical vulnerability.
Increasing the roll out of the booster programme to maximise protection will be the number one priority for the NHS over the coming weeks. This will be another huge effort for our vaccination programme – and for our NHS – which has already done so much to protect people across Wales. Our vaccination teams and all support staff are working flat out to deliver this. Please make attending your booster appointment your priority.
All individuals who are eligible for a booster will automatically receive an invitation to attend an appointment when it is their turn. Health boards will be sending letters, texts and making phone calls to contact people for their booster appointments. So far, our vaccinators have administered more than 1.1 million booster doses.
Health boards will be providing more vaccination centres in easy-to-access locations and more clinics. There will be longer opening hours in the evenings and at weekends and extra lanes at the mass vaccination centres. Walk-in sessions for certain age groups will be introduced, alongside appointments for the most vulnerable. Further details will be updated regularly on your local health board’s website and social media.
We will be working with GPs and community pharmacies to deliver the vaccine and with local government, fire services with students providing additional support to the clinics. We have also requested further support from the military.
Our vaccination teams need support from the people in Wales. To help our NHS, and your local community, please do everything you can to keep your allocated appointment.
What about my first or second dose?
If you are over 18 years old and have not had a first or second dose it is not too late to come forward. Anyone looking to receive their primary course (that’s the first or second dose) is able to get vaccinated at walk-in sessions or contact their health board to arrange vaccination.
If you are under 18 years old and haven’t had your first dose you can contact your health board to arrange vaccination or find out about dedicated walk-in sessions. You will receive a letter for your second dose appointment. If it has been longer than 12 weeks since your first vaccination and/or COVID-19 infection, you can contact your health board to arrange vaccination.
We do not want anyone to be left behind. Every vaccination counts as we work together to keep Wales safe.
Vaccination teams can answer any questions you may have about vaccination and support you to get vaccinated. If you have a fear of needles or feel anxious, let the person giving you the vaccine know. They will be understanding and support you. Most mass vaccination centres have quiet areas for people to sit whilst waiting and many also have specialist nurses in attendance, to assist those who may need some extra support.
Public Health Wales has FAQs about the vaccine and safety.
How do I volunteer?
Those who want to volunteer to help the COVID-19 vaccination programme can find out more information by visiting the Health Education and Improvement Wales website.
To provide the best support for our health boards you will need to be able to make a regular commitment of a minimum of 15 hours over 2 days a week.
COVID-19 vaccination status
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
From Monday 15 November, the COVID Pass will also be needed to attend
- cinemas
- theatres
- concert halls
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.
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
Who is currently getting vaccinated?
We are administering vaccination as follows:
- First doses for everyone aged 12 and over so that no one is left behind
- Second doses for everyone aged 12 and over so that no one is left behind
- Third primary and booster doses for the severely immunosuppressed
- Booster doses for those who are eligible
Summary of our overall progress:
- In total more than 5.9 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in Wales
- More than 2.47 million people have had a first dose and more than 2.28 million people have received their full course of vaccine
- 72.2% of adults aged 18 to 29 and 74.9% of adults aged 30 to 39 have received their second dose
- 77% of 16 and 17 year olds have received their initial dose and 56.4% of 12 to 15 year olds have received a first dose
- More than 44,600 people who are severely immunosuppressed have received their third primary dose
- More than 1.1 million people have received a booster
- 40.7% of people in Wales aged 12+ have received a booster or third dose
- 85% of care home residents, 67% of care home staff and more than 80% of people over 65 have received a booster
Further information
Public Health Wales has helpful FAQs on their website about the vaccine and safety, they are also publishing daily and weekly surveillance data releases.
Help on how to get your vaccination is available
There is further information about the COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy available here: COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy - Public Health Wales
UK Health Security Agency (formerly known as Public Health England PHE) study provides more safety data on COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy: New UKHSA study provides more safety data on COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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.