Over 80% of most at-risk in north Wales get covid spring booster

Over 80 per cent of those who are most at-risk of severe covid in north Wales have received a spring booster.

The jab has been offered to all adults aged 75 and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and individuals aged 5 years and over who are immunosuppressed.

It comes as part of new advice issued by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an independent expert committee which advises United Kingdom health departments about immunisation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The committee has recommended that for a smaller group of persons (such as persons of older age and those who are immunosuppressed) an extra booster vaccine dose may be offered in spring 2023. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Across north Wales more than 81.5 per cent of the most at-risk people have received their spring booster, significantly surpassing the national target of 75%.

The booster campaign will end tomorrow (Friday 30 June) with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board urging those eligible to come forward to a drop-in vaccination clinic.

A spokesperson for the health board said: “We would like to thank people who have attended their appointments, the care homes we have worked with across North Wales who have worked with us to protect residents, and our staff and volunteers for all of their hard work on our programme.

“People who have received an invitation through the post are still encouraged to attend the arranged appointment offered if possible, but if you need to cancel or rearrange then please let us know via the COVID-19 Vaccination Contact Centre as missed appointments have an impact on our resources.

“Those eligible for the booster vaccine should have received an invitation by letter and/or text message.

“Anyone who has not yet received their primary doses of the COVID-19 vaccine can still receive a single dose by attending one of the walk-in clinics until Friday.

“There is no need to book. More details about where vaccinations will be available can be found by visiting our drop in COVID-19 vaccination clinic pages.”

The spokesperson added: “Housebound residents that have not yet received a booster vaccination, either through recently becoming eligible or being unavailable for pre-arranged appointment, will be able to be vaccinated in a vehicle if they can attend one of our vaccination centres to make it as accessible as possible, as it will be difficult to reach newly identified housebound individuals in this group before 30 June.”

If you received an appointment for your COVID-19 spring booster vaccine but were unable to attend because of illness, you can reschedule your appointment until July 18.

Please call the Contact Centre on 03000 840004 to rearrange your appointment.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Contact Centre can be contacted on 03000 840004, which is open 8am to 7pm from Monday to Friday and 9am to 2pm at the weekend.