Provides updated information about the COVID-19 vaccination programme up to 25 January 2022.
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?
Last Thursday we were the first UK Nation to begin vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 who are “at risk” with the new paediatric vaccine formulation. Children aged 5-11 who live in a household with someone who is immunosuppressed are also eligible for this vaccine.
Children aged 5 to 11 who are at risk will be automatically sent an invitation for their vaccination so there is no need to contact your GP.
Children aged 5 to 11 who are a household contact of someone who is immunosuppressed will need to complete a form to let health boards know that they are eligible and need an appointment.
Nobody left behind
Nobody will be left behind, and anyone who wants to take up the offer of a first, second or booster vaccine can still do so. If you couldn’t make your appointment over Christmas, you can do it now. Walk-in sessions are available across Wales for first, second and booster appointments. Health board details are here: Get your COVID-19 vaccination.
Vaccines offer a good level of protection and it’s worth having if you’ve had COVID already. This is because the level of protection people get from having the virus may vary depending on how mild or severe their illness was, the time since their infection, and their age. But we know protection from vaccination is good, especially the booster.
Unvaccinated people are more likely to need critical care in hospitals for COVID including the Omicron variant, and their outcomes are usually worse than those who are vaccinated.
Vaccination teams can answer any questions you may have about vaccination and support you to get vaccinated. Most 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.
COVID-19 vaccination status
From 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
As of 15 November, the COVID Pass is also 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 24 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.
Access the COVID Pass using a smart phone, a computer or laptop (on NHS)
Further information and guidance will be made available by the Welsh Government in the near future. View the current guidance on accessing the COVID Pass.
Who is currently getting vaccinated?
As a guide to who is eligible for the vaccine including the interval between doses, Public Health Wales have published information.
Summary of our overall progress:
- In total more than 6.7 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in Wales
- More than 2.5 million people have had a first dose and more than 2.35 million people have received their full course of vaccine
- 73.4% of adults aged 18 to 29 and 75.7% of adults aged 30 to 39 have received their second dose
- 79.1% of 16 and 17 year olds have received their initial dose and 61.6% of 12 to 15 year olds have received a first dose
- More than 53,400 people who are severely immunosuppressed have received their third primary dose
- More than 1.8 million people have received a booster
- 67.9% of people in Wales aged 12+ have received a booster or third dose, this figure does not take into account that not everyone will be eligible for a booster at this time, for example due to not being in an eligible cohort, because the interval between second dose and booster is less than three months or because of recent prior infection with COVID
- 90.1% of care home residents, 75.4% of care home staff and more than 84.5% of people over 50 have received a booster.
Further information
Public Health Wales has FAQs about the vaccine and safety. They also publish daily and weekly surveillance data releases.
Help on how to get your vaccination is available here: Get your COVID-19 vaccination
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.