COVID-19 vaccination programme weekly update: 22 June 2021

Our National Vaccination Strategy was published on 11 January and is based on the detailed planning NHS Wales had been doing.  

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

Following the announcement that we have offered a first COVID-19 vaccination to all eligible adults in Wales, all health boards in Wales are encouraging anyone aged 18 to 29-year-olds who hasn’t yet, to come forward for vaccination. 

If you haven't had your invitation or you need to rearrange, contact your health board. It is never too late, help on how to get your vaccination is available here: Get your COVID-19 vaccination if you think you have been missed.

We expect to reach milestone 3 in our Strategy - 75% take-up for first jabs across all priority groups and age groups - ahead of target.

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. There is good emerging evidence to suggest two doses of the vaccine is helping to reduce the risk of hospitalisation as a result of the delta variant.

We will be focused on offering a second dose to everyone in priority groups 1-9 over the next four weeks – that’s everyone over 50, all healthcare workers, social care workers, and other vulnerable groups, including care home residents.

We will be bringing forward appointments for the people over 40, subject to supply, so they don’t have to wait longer than eight weeks between their first and second doses.

We are aiming to offer all eligible adults two doses of vaccine by the end of September.

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:

• In total more than 3.7 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in Wales
• High take up of both first and second doses in priority groups 1-4, protecting our most vulnerable
• Over 2.2 million people have had a first dose and over 1.5 million people have received their full course of vaccine
• The vaccine is the best way to prevent serious illness and the spread of the disease
• 83% of the 40-49 cohort have received a first dose, 73% of the 30-39 cohort have received a first dose and 69% of the 18-29 cohort have received a first dose
• 3 in 5 adults have received their second dose so are fully protected
• Overall, 88% of our adult population have had a first dose and 60% 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
• second doses for those in priority groups 1-9

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 379 locations across Wales, including:

• 48 mass vaccination centres
• 242 general practice locations
• 38 pharmacies
• 21 hospital locations
• there were 25 mobile teams operating

Public Health Wales have published their fifth report on equality in coverage of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. The report shows that coverage of vaccination has increased in all reported socioeconomic and ethnic groups, with coverage of one dose in older age groups levelling off. It also shows that inequality gaps in coverage of at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine between ethnic and socioeconomic groups in older adults in Wales have narrowed slightly since March, however inequalities in younger age groups have widened. The largest inequality in coverage was seen between ethnic groups in adults aged 30 to 39 years. 

The programme is ongoing and coverage figures are not final, so the opportunity to reduce inequities remains. The narrowing of inequalities seen in coverage between some groups over the past month highlights the importance of offering opportunities to catch-up and local public health interventions.
No one left behind is a key principle to our vaccination programme, working to reduce inequalities of coverage. 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 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.