16 June 2021 - Hywel Dda vaccine bulletin - Issue 23
Welcome to issue 23 of Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Vaccine Bulletin.
This weekly update will provide the latest information regarding the progress of the COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Programme across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
This has been an historic week for the Welsh vaccination programme, with all eligible adults in Wales having been offered a vaccine by Monday 14 June – six weeks ahead of schedule.
Wales is also leading the world in terms of numbers of people vaccinated in a country of more than a million people. Latest figures show that more than 2.2million people in Wales have had their first dose and 1.44million people are now fully vaccinated.
It is not too late for anyone who has changed their mind about having a vaccine to get an appointment – Wales has a “no one left behind” policy so if you would like to request a first vaccine please do so as soon as possible by completing this online request form (opens in new tab).
If you or someone you know is unable to complete our online request form, please call the health board on 0300 303 8322 and please share this message with friends, family and your local community to ensure no one is left behind.
With the rise in cases across the UK it is important that as many people come forward for their first and second vaccines when invited.
Speaking this week, Health Minister Eluned Morgan, said: “With the recent emergence of a variant of concern with the potential to become a dominant UK strain causing COVID-19, we have been reminded once more just how quickly the virus can change and put pressure on our plans.
“There is still a risk of a third wave with increased transmission and the hospitalisations that accompany increased prevalence within our communities. Vaccinations will help to limit the spread of the virus. We will also remain vigilant in terms of other new variants that could emerge which could evade the protection of current vaccines.”
Thank you to everyone in mid and west Wales who has come forward to date to have their vaccine. It is so important that all eligible adults come forward as soon as possible for their vaccine.
Our aim, as with groups 1 to 9 is to achieve at least 75% uptake for people aged 18 to 49. Whilst the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine in Wales remains extremely high, there are still a number of people across all age ranges who, despite receiving more than one offer, remain unvaccinated.
The warmer weather and the start of Euro 2020 saw a drop in numbers of people attending appointments or one of our walk-in clinics this weekend. Please don’t delay your appointment or put off having your vaccine.
Do you have questions about the vaccine?
Understandably, there will be a lot of questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, especially for younger and healthy people.
Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives. Vaccines teach your immune system how to protect you from diseases. It's much safer for your immune system to learn this through vaccination than by catching the diseases and attempting to treat them.
Since vaccines were introduced, diseases like smallpox and polio that used to kill or disable millions of people are gone from the UK.
The long-term response to the pandemic requires a safe and effective vaccine to be available for all who need it.
If you are unsure whether to have the vaccine, we strongly encourage you to make a vaccine appointment where you will be able to speak to our expert vaccination staff. We will make sure your questions are answered and ensure you have all the information you need to make the right decision for you.
You can also find answers to most frequently asked questions here (Public Health Wales, opens in new tab)
Professor Lucy Chappell talks about the COVID-19 Vaccine and Fertility
How to contact us for your first COVID-19 vaccine
If you are aged over 18 or in the JCVI priority groups 1 to 9 and have not received a first vaccine appointment, please request one as soon as possible by completing this online request form (opens in new tab). We understand that not everyone will have internet access. If you or someone you know is unable to complete our online request form, please call the health board on 0300 303 8322. Please share this message with friends, family and your local community to ensure no one is left behind.
Second dose appointments
Second dose appointments for COVID-19 vaccination are normally taking place around 11 weeks after the first dose appointment. It is vital that you attend your second dose appointment.
If you received your first dose on or before 4 April and have not yet received your invitation for a second dose please use this request form to let us know (opens in new tab). If you or someone you know is unable to use an online form, please contact our booking team on 0300 303 8322.
| Priority Group | First dose vaccine numbers | First dose percentage uptake | Second dose vaccine numbers | Second dose percentage uptake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1.1 - Older adult resident in a care home | 2,489 | 96.4% | 2,135 | 82.7% |
| P1.2 - Care home worker | 3,461 | 99.1% | 3,127 | 89.5% |
| P2.1 - All those 80 years of age and over | 22,811 | 99.8% | 21,753 | 95.25 |
| P2.2 & 2.3 - Health and social care workers | 25,746 | 98.3% | 23,220 | 88.6% |
| P3 - All those 75 years of age and over  | 18,657 | 95.6% | 18,092 | 92.7% |
| P4.1 - All those 70 years of age | 25,006 | 95.1% | 24,322 | 92.5% |
| P4.2 - Clinically extremely vulnerable individuals  under 70 years of age | 8,682 | 87.7% | 8,288 | 83.1% |
| 5. All those 65 years of age and over | 21,640 | 90.6% | 20,748 | 86.9% |
| 6. All individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality (at risk groups) | 38,357 | 86% | 32,134 | 72% |
| 7. All those 60 years of age and over | 13,373 | 68.7% | 12,307 | 63.3% |
| 8. All those 55 years of age and over | 14,782 | 79.5% | 10,353 | 55.7% |
| 9. All those 50 years of age and over | 14,666 | 90.2% | 2,095 | 12.9% |
| 10. Priority group 10 or unallocated | 62,219 | 40.5% | 2,738 | 1.8% |
| 45 to 49 years old | 11,031 | 69.8% | 598 | 3.8% |
| 40 to 44 years old | 10,153 | 66.8% | 510 | 3.4% |
| 35 to 39 years old | 10,426 | 64.6% | 459 | 2.8% |
| 30 to 34 years old | 10,233 | 60.2% | 386 | 2.25 |
| 25 to 29 years old | 8,847 | 50.7% | 377 | 2.2% |
| 20 to 24 years old | 8,580 | 45.5% | 289 | 1.5% |
| 15 to 19 years old | 2,947 | 19.5% | 119 | 0.85 |
| Total: | 271,890 | 70.2% | 181,252 | 46.8% |
