17 March 2021 - Hywel Dda vaccine bulletin - Issue 10
Welcome to the tenth edition 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.
The number of vaccinations delivered this week has increased significantly to 26,559 and we’d like to thank everyone working incredibly hard to keep this 7 day a week operation going.
Here in Hywel Dda UHB, 39.5% of our population have now received their first vaccine dose and 5.9% have received a full course.
Once all those in the priority groups 1 to 9 have been offered their first dose of the vaccine, as well as continuing with the second dose programme, NHS Wales will move on to those aged 40-49, in line with the recent advice of the JCVI on phase 2 of the programme. This group will start from the 19th April and we will announce further information closer about where this group will receive their vaccine closer to the time.
It is our aim to offer all eligible adults in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire the vaccine by the end of July.
Everyone encouraged to have the AstraZeneca vaccine when offered
Following this week’s news that some countries have paused their rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the health board wants to assure people that safety will always come first and everyone is encouraged to have the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine when they are offered it.
Vaccine safety is continually monitored and this issue is being kept under close review, but evidence currently available does not confirm this vaccine is causing blood clots.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA), the World Health Organization and the UK's medicine regulator all say the vaccine is safe to give.
Incident Director at Public Health Wales, Dr Giri Shankar, said: “Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the regulatory body, has said that it has not been confirmed that the reports of blood clots were caused by the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. It has said that given the large numbers of doses administered, and the frequency at which blood clots can occur naturally, the evidence available does not suggest the vaccine is the cause.
“People’s safety will always come first. We continually monitor vaccine safety and we are keeping this issue under close review, but evidence currently available does not confirm this vaccine is causing blood clots. People should still go and get their vaccine when asked to do so.”
Volunteers at the heart of vaccination programme
Did you know over 350 people from our community have come forward to offer their support to volunteer at one of our mass vaccination centres?
We’d like to give our thanks to everyone involved in this tremendous response, including partner organisations who have been brilliant in supporting us to recruit our volunteers.
Volunteers make a huge contribution to the smooth running of our clinics and have been there whatever the weather - sunshine, rain (sometimes torrential), sleet and snow!
Second vaccine dose progress
We are really pleased that we have been able to protect our community by providing the first vaccine dose to more than a third of our population, the second highest rate for this figure in Wales.
In recent weeks, the health board’s mass vaccination centres have focused on delivering second vaccine doses to care home, health and social care workers in priority groups 1 and 2 using the Pfizer vaccine. Local recorded figures show 61.5% of care home staff and 77.4% of health and social care workers are fully vaccinated.
Our GPs are also working hard to provide our communities with the vaccine. They are currently offering first vaccination to our largest priority group (group 6) of 16-64-year-olds with underlying health conditions and unpaid carers.
GPs will offer second vaccination doses of the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine within 8 to 12 weeks of the first dose to our population, starting with adult care home residents, and over 80s.
There is evidence that a gap greater than 8 weeks between doses of Oxford-Astrazeneca is a better regime for long term protection for this particular vaccine. Please do not contact the health board or your GP to ask about your second vaccine dose, you will be contacted when it is your turn.
Eligible unpaid carers encouraged to register for a COVID-19 vaccine
Unpaid carers in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire who are not already registered as a carer with their GP practice are being asked to complete an online registration form if they wish to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
If you believe you may be eligible, are aged 16 or over and are not registered as an unpaid carer with your GP, please complete this online form to register your details (opens in new tab).
Those already registered as an unpaid carer with a GP will be contacted directly to receive a COVID vaccination and do not need to do anything further.
To date over 1,200 people have registered. Please wait to be invited for your vaccination and do not contact your GP or health board to ask about your vaccine appointment. You will be contacted when it is your turn. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
| 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% | 204 | 7.9% |
| P1.2 - Care home worker | 3,223 | 92.2% | 2,149 | 61.5% |
| P2.1 - All those 80 years of age and over | 22,596 | 99.5% | 93 | 0.4% |
| P2.2 & 2.3 - Health and social care workers | 22,863 | 99.4% | 17,651 | 77.4% |
| P3 - All those 75 years of age and over  | 18,202 | 93.3% | 891 | 4.6% |
| P4.1 - All those 70 years of age | 24,575 | 93.5% | 88 | 0.3% |
| P4.2 - Clinically extremely vulnerable individuals  under 70 years of age | 8,322 | 84% | 90 | 0.9% |
| 5. All those 65 years of age and over | 20,729 | 86.8% | 46 | 0.9% |
| 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) | 20,749 | 46.5% | 764 | 0.2% |
| 7. All those 60 years of age and over | 6,216 | 31.9% | 46 | 1.7% |
| 8. All those 55 years of age and over | 692 | 3.7% | 49 | 0.2% |
| 9. All those 50 years of age and over | 542 | 3.3% | 59 | 0.3% |
| Other priority groups or unallocated | 1,775 | 1.1% | 787 | 0.4% |
| Total: | 152,976 | 39.5% | 22,917 | 5.9% |
Please don’t contact your GP, pharmacy or health board to ask when you will receive the vaccine
This week, health services have been inundated with calls, emails and social media messages from the public enquiring about the vaccine. We understand people are anxious and want to know when they can have the vaccine. Please do not contact your GP, pharmacy or health board; you will be contacted when it is your turn. People will be invited to receive the vaccine in order of priority, so please be patient.