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Pop-up community vaccine centres set up to help people access their winter vaccines

26 November 2025

Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) is urging all eligible groups, especially children aged two and three and people with long-term health conditions, to get vaccinated promptly as respiratory viruses spread in communities and hospitals.

Flu can be serious, particularly for young children, older adults and people with long-term health conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. These conditions increase vulnerability to complications, from catching influenza viruses. Last year, over 4000 people in Wales were admitted to hospital with influenza, with 4% of these requiring care in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Eligible people can contact their GP for an appointment to receive their flu vaccine or attend a local pop-up vaccine clinic, which start on Monday 1 December.  
 
The health board is sending appointment letters inviting people to attend their local pop-up community vaccine clinic (opens in new window). Eligible people can also drop-in to receive their flu and / or COVID-19 vaccinations at their local community vaccine clinic, no appointment needed.

The following groups are eligible for these vaccines:

Flu vaccine 

  • Children aged two and three on 31 August 2025* 
  • All school-aged children from Reception to Year 11* 
  • Adults aged 65 and over by 31 March 2026 
  • People aged six months to 64 years with long-term health conditions 
  • Pregnant women, care home residents, carers, and those living with immunocompromised individuals 
  • Frontline health and social care workers, first responders, and poultry workers at high risk

*The nasal spray flu vaccine will also be available for children aged 2 (on 31 August 2025) to sixteen. 

COVID-19 vaccine:

A single dose will be offered to: 

  • Adults aged 75 and over (including those turning 75 during the vaccination period) 
  • Residents in older adult care homes 
  • Individuals with weakened immune systems 

To find out more about eligibility for these vaccinations visit https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/winter-vaccinations/ (opens in new window). 

Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective. You might still contract the virus, but your symptoms are likely to be milder.  

Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are quick and very safe and could prevent weeks of serious illness this winter.

Dr Ardiana Gjini, Executive Director of Public Health at Hywel Dda UHB, said: "We are seeing influenza circulate earlier than usual in our communities. This reinforces the importance of getting your flu vaccine as soon as possible. 

“The vaccine is updated every year to match the most common strains and remains our best defence against serious illness. Despite reports of a new strain this winter, testing shows the current vaccine continues to offer strong protection, reducing the risk of hospitalisation by up to 75% in children and up to 40% in adults. Annual vaccination is essential to stay protected."

For more information visit our website https://hduhb.nhs.wales/fluvaccine (opens in a new window) or contact the health board on 0300 303 8322 option 1 or ask.hdd@wales.nhs.uk.