Covid-19 spring booster campaign to start in April

Almost 100,000 residents across North Wales will be eligible for a Covid-19 spring booster vaccination from April 2.

The jab, which aims to to ‘top up’ a person’s protection against the virus, will be offered at around six months after their last dose of the vaccine.

Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the Welsh Government, a Spring booster vaccine will be offered to those most at risk from COVID-19. This includes:

• everyone aged 75 or over,
• everyone living in a care home for older adults, and
• all adults and children aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed.

During April, vaccination teams will visit care homes for older adults to offer the spring booster to residents. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will also contact people who are housebound to arrange vaccination.

Aall other people eligible for a Spring booster will be invited to an appointment at a nearby community vaccination centre by letter. Appointment letters will be posted over the coming weeks.

The first appointments will be held at our community vaccination centres will take place from April 15 onwards, and to run throughout May and June.

A health board spokesperson said: “We will write to eligible people to offer an appointment in order of clinical priority.

“You will receive an appointment when it is your turn. Please do be patient – there is no need to contact us.

“Please check your appointment letter carefully because the venue of your nearest vaccination clinic may have changed since our Autumn programme.

“We will stop offering the COVID-19 Autumn booster on March 28.

“The health board is calling on anyone who is eligible for the vaccine but has not yet had it to come forward over the next two weeks.

“We are especially keen to encourage people aged 65 to 74 and anyone who is immunosuppressed to top up their protection and reduce their risk of serious illness.”