Eluned Morgan, Minister for Health and Social Services
Today, I am publishing the latest version of our COVID-19 vaccination programme update – these updates will now be released fortnightly. I have kept Members updated over recess and today’s COVID-19 vaccination programme update covers recent decisions and developments, including:
- The booster vaccination
- Offering a first dose to 12 to 15-year-olds
- Offering a third primary dose for severely immunosuppressed
- The Covid Pass
I am pleased to confirm that last week the autumn booster campaign started in Wales as frontline health and care staff in North Wales and care home residents in Treorchy became the first to receive the booster vaccine.
Other frontline staff, health and social care workers and care home residents across Wales will be offered their booster dose as the programme is extended across Wales throughout this week. The programme will be extended over the coming months to everyone over 16 with underlying health conditions and all those over 50, in the order they were vaccinated, as long as six months has passed since they had the second dose of their Covid-19 vaccine.
There is no need for people to contact the NHS or health services to check if they have an appointment – as soon as someone becomes eligible, they will automatically receive an invitation to attend an appointment for the booster when it is their turn.
More than 4.5m Covid-19 vaccinations have been administered in Wales. Seventy per cent of 16 and 17-year-olds have taken up their offer and I am extremely grateful to each and every one of those young people.
There are still people who have not received their first dose, especially adults under the age of 29, where the vaccine take-up is lowest. The vaccine is our best means of protection against coronavirus. Vaccination centres across Wales are accepting walk-in appointments and I encourage all those who haven’t yet been vaccinated to take up this opportunity.