COVID-19 vaccination programme vaccine update: 31 August 2021

Our COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy for Wales was published on 11 January 2021. Together with the below updates it 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

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.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) published further advice on vaccinating young people. The JCVI updated their advice on 4 August to recommend that all 16 and 17 year olds be offered a first dose of Pfizer vaccine. This is in addition to the existing offer of two doses of vaccine to 16 to17 year olds who are in ‘at-risk’ groups and those young people who are within three months of their 18th birthday.

Health Boards have been working hard on the arrangements needed to offer the vaccination to all 16 and 17 year olds in line with this advice. All 16 and 17 year olds in Wales received their offer of a COVID-19 vaccine, with all appointments scheduled by the end of August.  Walk-in clinics are also open throughout Wales, offering the opportunity for those to get the vaccination at their convenience.

Appointments are being arranged for 12 to 15 year olds who are eligible for the vaccine as identified by the JCVI.

Taking up the offer of vaccination is important for everyone, especially for young people so that they are at lower risk of the effects of coronavirus now that we are able to socialise more.

If you haven't had your invitation or you need to rearrange, please contact your health board. Help on how to get your vaccination is available: Get your COVID-19 vaccination.

The NHS COVID Pass allows you to show others that you’ve received a COVID-19 vaccine when travelling abroad. 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.

All doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine used in the UK and Wales have been authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) following rigorous safety and quality checks.  All AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine used in the UK is the same regardless of where it was manufactured, and will appear on the NHS COVID Pass as Vaxzevria. 

The MHRA has not approved doses branded as Covishield and none have been in administered in the UK, Covishield should not appear on your certificate. If it has, you may wish to request a new copy of your certificate. For more information on how to do this please visit: NHS COVID Pass: prove your vaccination status.

Where there is a misunderstanding with individual countries, the UK Government has agreed to discuss the integrity of the vaccines directly with the relevant Government. For example, there was an issue with Malta and the Maltese Government confirmed on 15 July that they accept all COVID-19 vaccines approved by the MHRA and all UK travel advice was updated. 

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 4.5 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in Wales
• High take up of both first and second doses in priority groups 1 to 4, protecting our most vulnerable
• Over 2.35 million people have had a first dose and over 2.18 million people have received their full course of vaccine
• 76% of adults aged 18 to 29 and 77% of adults aged 30 to 39 have received their first dose
• 61% of 16 and 17 year olds have received their initial dose
• The vaccine is the best way to prevent serious illness and the spread of the disease

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 to 9 who, for various reason, have not yet taken up their offer. 

That means, we are now vaccinating:

• First doses for remaining adults aged 18 and over so that no one is left behind
• First doses for eligible children aged 12 to 15 identified by JCVI 
• Initial dose for young people aged 16 and 17
• Second doses for all those who are eligible

In the new term these updates will be provided on a fortnightly basis. 

Vaccination uptake for the UK nations have updated to use the latest 16+ mid-2020 population estimates because the JCVI has recommended this age group for vaccination. The updated population estimates has been applied to all dates throughout the vaccination programme. Adding population figures for 16 to 17 year olds has increased the overall population number, which has caused an expected dip in the percentage of the population showing as vaccinated. You will find overall and comparison data for vaccinations in the UK here. 

Public Health Wales has FAQs about the vaccine and safety. They also publish 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.