With the summer holidays under way for many of us, I wanted to take the opportunity to update you on the progress on COVID-19 vaccination in Powys, and the next steps.
The key messages are:
Coronavirus continues to circulate. Coronavirus case rates in some parts of Powys are amongst the highest in Wales.
There is good evidence that two doses of the vaccine prevents serious illness from COVID-19, but we all need to assume that we can catch the virus and transmit it even if we have had the vaccine.
Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air remain vital messages to protect ourselves and our loved ones. If you have symptoms, get a test. If you cannot work from home, then lateral flow device tests are available for people without symptoms.
Thank you for everything you are doing to Keep Powys Safe – and please do feel free to share this information in your organisations, networks and communities.
COVID-19 vaccination remains available for everyone aged 18 and over. You can attend our drop-in clinics. These are advertised through our social media channels and the latest information is also available from our website. Next week we have drop-in clinics confirmed on Saturday in Builth Wells and on Sunday in Bronllys and Newtown.
Drop-In Clinics - Powys Teaching Health Board
You can also use our Priority Access Form to get in touch.
pthb.nhs.wales/find/priority-access
Already more than 80% of people aged 18-29 in Powys have taken up the first dose vaccination. This is the highest rate of all the health boards in Wales.
All of our first dose appointments are currently with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine unless there is a clinical reason why you should not have this type of vaccine.
Our drop-in sessions are also open to anyone who will turn 18 by 31 October 2021.
Last week the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) published new guidance recommending that everyone aged 16-17 is offered their first dose.
We are already well under way with our offer to 16 & 17 year olds, and invitations are landing on doormats for appointments taking place next week.
If anyone in this age group does not receive an invitation by the end of next week, from 20 August our Priority Access Form will be open to everyone aged 16 and over:
pthb.nhs.wales/find/priority-access
Current guidance recommends one dose for most people aged 16 and 17*. We await further guidance on whether a second dose will also be offered.
*Some 16 and 17 year olds will be offered two doses. Based on current guidance this includes: those approaching their 18th birthday (people who will turn 18 by 31 October 2021); and, 16-17 year olds are in one of the high priority groups (for example, who are “clinically extremely vulnerable”).
On 19 July, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation published new guidance recommending vaccination for certain individuals aged 12 to 15.
This includes children aged 12-15 with serious neurodisabilities, Downs Syndrome, immunocompromised, or profound/complex learning disabilities. It also includes children in this age group who are household contacts of people who are immunocompromised.
Our Children’s Nursing Teams, as well as specialists in Welsh Government, have been busy identifying those children who should be offered vaccination in this group. We are making contact with families to arrange vaccination, and some vaccinations have taken place this week.
Parents or guardians of children aged 12-15 who are household contacts of people who are immunosuppressed can also use the national referral form on the Welsh Government website to let us know:
We offer dedicated sessions for this age group, recognising that they may have additional support needs. This means that we are not currently able to offer drop-in sessions for children aged 12-15. All children aged 12-15 should be accompanied to their vaccination by an adult.
On 30 June, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation published interim guidance for a potential COVID-19 booster vaccine programme this winter.
This is interim guidance only, so it is subject to change. It currently recommends a booster vaccine for some parts of the adult population but not all.
We expect further guidance by the middle of September, and will make sure we share further information when we receive it. This includes a dedicated web page about the booster programme:
In most cases, your invitation for a booster will come from the health board. We kindly ask that you do not contact your GP practice or the health board about a booster programme in the meantime. Please do look out for further details next month, and thank you for your patience.
Welsh Government has put in place arrangements for an NHS COVID Pass. The NHS COVID Pass allows you to show others, when travelling abroad, that you’ve had a COVID-19 vaccine.
Most questions about the NHS COVID Pass should be directed to Welsh Government, or to your travel operator. We are able to help with specific enquiries if your vaccination in Powys is not showing on your NHS COVID Pass. Please do wait at least five days after your vaccination for it to appear on your NHS COVID Pass.
You can find out more about the NHS COVID Pass from the Welsh Government website:
If your vaccination in Powys is not showing on your NHS COVID Pass and it is more than five days since your vaccination, please contact us:
We regret that we are not able to add vaccinations that have taken place overseas to your NHS COVID Pass. We are only able to check your Welsh Immunisation Record in relation to vaccinations administered in Powys.
Our next online Q&A session with Carol Shillabeer will take place at 5.30pm on Tuesday 14 September.
How do I join?
You can join the session from most web browsers by clicking on this link.
When do I join?
You are welcome to join just before 5.30pm by clicking on the link above. The meeting will start shortly after 5.30pm to allow people time to join.
How do I participate?
This event will be provided through Microsoft Teams Live Event. It includes a Q&A function which allows you to ask questions. We regret that we may not have time to answer all the questions raised, but hope that the briefing will provide an opportunity to cover the main themes.
I am having trouble joining
The briefing will be recorded so that it is available for people who have trouble joining, or who are not available to join us at 5.30pm.
More information about being an attendee of a Microsoft Teams Live Event is available from the Microsoft website
I cannot attend – will I still be able to watch?
If you cannot attend on the day, you can watch the event at any time using the web link.
How can I watch the last briefing on 14 July?
The briefing on 14 July is available on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/y_Z-iacy2WA
Coronavirus is still circulating. In fact, some part of Powys have confirmed case rates amongst the highest in Wales.
There is good evidence that two doses of the vaccine prevents serious illness from COVID-19. But, we all need to assume that we can catch the virus and transmit it even if we have had the vaccine.
Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air remain vital messages to protect ourselves and our loved ones. If you have symptoms, get a test. If you cannot work from home, then lateral flow device tests are available for people without symptoms.
More information about Coronavirus Testing in Powys is available from the Powys Teaching Health Board website at https://pthb.nhs.wales/find/ttp
Swansea Bay University Health Board is undertaking a period of engagement on health and hospital services in the Swansea Bay area. These proposals would affect the way in which some residents of South West Powys (Ystradgynlais and Tawe Uchaf) access hospital services in the Swansea Bay area (e.g. Morriston, Singleton, Neath Port Talbot. Engagement is taking place from 26 July 2021 to 1 October 2021:
We have lots of great opportunities to join our team here at Powys Teaching Health Board. This includes opportunities to join our Test Trace Protect and Vaccination Team as an Immuniser, Contact Tracing Clinical Lead, Administration Assistant, Project Manager, and Programme Director. You can find all our current opportunities on our website:
Please help spread the word about our latest vacancies.
You can find all the latest information about COVID-19 vaccination on our website.
More information about the national COVID-19 vaccination programme in Wales is available from the Public Health Wales website:
The latest information about the number of COVID-19 vaccination doses delivered in Wales is available from the Public Health Wales dashboard:
More information about the Welsh Government’s strategy for COVID-19 vaccination: