COVID-19 vaccination programme weekly update: 15 June 2021

Our COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy for Wales was published on 11 January 2021. It sets out the detail of the Vaccination Programme in Wales. 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 now offered a first COVID-19 vaccination to all eligible adults in Wales. This is a huge achievement and the Minister for Health and Social Services has been thanking the incredible work of all of those involved, as well as thanking the Welsh Public for taking up their vaccine to keep themselves and their families safe.

We expect to reach milestone 3 in our Strategy - 75% take-up for first jabs across all priority groups and age groups - about a month ahead of target. If anyone thinks they have been missed it is not too late. Get your COVID-19 vaccination if you think you have been missed. 

All health boards in Wales are encouraging anyone aged 18 to 29-year-olds who hasn’t yet, to come forward for vaccination. In line with JCVI advice, the NHS in Wales is working hard to ensure every dose of vaccine allocated to Wales is delivered promptly to vaccination centres and primary care contractors for use in the programme and to make sure the appropriate vaccine is available at the right time.

We continue to follow the UK’s independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority list, followed by all four nations in the UK and has the support of all 4 Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) within the UK.

Current Summary:

• All those in priority groups 1-9 have been offered the vaccine and those in priority group 10 are being offered the vaccine.
• High take up of both first and second doses in priority groups 1-4.
• In total more than 3.6 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in Wales.
• Over 2.2 million people have had a first dose and over 1.4 million people have received their full course of vaccine.
• 82% of the 40-49 cohort have received a first dose, 72% of the 30-39 cohort have received a first dose and 66% of the 18-29 cohort have received a first dose.
• Overall, 87% of our adult population have had a first dose and 54% of all adults in Wales have completed the two-dose course.

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, for various reason, have not yet taken up their offer.

That means, we are now vaccinating:

• remaining adults aged 18 and over
• anyone who, for whatever reason, was missed in priority groups 1-9, so that no one is left behind

Our second dose programme is running substantively alongside our first dose programme. The second dose is essential for longer term protection so it’s just as important that second dose offers are taken up. Particularly as Public Health England research shows two doses of vaccines offers strong protection against the Delta variant which we are continuing to closely monitor in Wales.

In line with the JCVI advice, we will be shortening the interval between first and second doses of vaccine for people at increased risk of contracting COVID-19, especially those living in areas where there are concerns about the Delta variant and in accordance with vaccine supplies. 

Health boards will oversee this work for their local populations area. We are aiming to offer all eligible adults two doses of vaccine by the end of September.

Our infrastructure has been built from the ground up and is a blended delivery model. This is aimed at providing a mix of sites in order to maximise speed of roll out, ensure safety, meet the needs of the characteristics of the vaccines, be as conveniently located as possible and, importantly make sure we give equitable access across the country and all communities.

During the past week vaccinations were being administered in 446 locations across Wales, including:

• 52 mass vaccination centres
• 301 general practice locations
• 39 pharmacies
• 20 hospital locations and
• there were 27 mobile teams operating

We have published an update to our National Strategy which sets out the next steps for the vaccination programme, including our commitment to minimise inequalities and ensure no one is left behind. It also sets out the steps Wales is taking to prepare for any decisions by the JCVI about booster jabs and vaccinating children and young people – the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have approved a vaccine for use in children over 12.

No one left behind is a key principle to our vaccination programme. Whilst the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine in Wales has been extremely high, there are still groups of the population who, despite receiving more than one offer, remain unvaccinated. The NHS will always be ready for you if you didn’t take up your first offer of COVID-19 vaccination for whatever reason but have changed your mind, it is never too late to arrange an appointment.

It is important that we maintain the current high-levels of vaccine uptake to keep Wales safe, this is for both first and second doses.  Every dose administered and every person protected really does make a difference.  The vaccines are safe and effective and we urge everyone to take up their offer when it is their turn. Your second dose of vaccine is important for longer lasting protection against COVID-19 and also against the current Delta variant.

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.