All eligible adults in Powys will be offered booster vaccination by end of January

All eligible adults in Powys will be offered booster vaccination by end of January.

The programme is gathering pace following new guidance published last week (29 November) by the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). This expert national body now recommends boosters for everyone aged 18 and over, as well as 16-17 year olds in certain risk groups. Their recommendations have been adopted by Welsh Government.

Boosters can now be offered at three months, which means that the health board will now be inviting those in the highest priority groups who received their second dose more than three months ago.

Invitations are being issued in the following national priority order:

People aged 80 and over, and frontline health & care workers (including care home workers)
People aged 75-79
People aged 70-74 and people with conditions that make them clinically extremely vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19
People aged 65-69
People aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to serious illness from COVID-19
People aged 60-64
People aged 55-59
People aged 50-54
People aged 40-49
People aged 30-39
People aged 18-29

Older people and others in higher risk groups will be invited as close to three months as possible after our second dose. We currently expect that most people aged 18-49 who are not in a higher risk group will receive an invitation for an appointment in January.

Adrian Osborne, Programme Director for COVID-19 Vaccination for Powys Teaching Health Board said: "Following last week's updated guidance we are ramping up our vaccination programme here in Powys. Our vaccination centres will be offering more doses every day, and open more days each week. I would like to think the team for their 'all hands to the pump' approach, as this vaccination programme is only possible because of the people who deliver it - as well as the amazing support from the people of Powys."

"We will also need your help and your patience to offer even more boosters, to more people, more quickly," added Mr Osborne. "Here are some ways you can help us:

Please do everything you can to attend the first appointment we offer you. You may have to wait several weeks for a replacement appointment. You can use our online form if you cannot attend.
Please do NOT contact us to find out when your appointment will be. You will receive an invitation letter in the priority order above, based on age and vulnerability.
Please aim to arrive on time (not too early, not too late) for your appointment. This helps to reduce waiting, and to improve traffic flow.
Thank you for your patience and flexibility. We are issuing more booster invitations than ever before, and this does mean that you might receive your appointment at short notice.
Thank you for helping friends, families and neighbours to get to their booster appointment safely.
Please do dress for the weather, but with layers so that we can reach your arm to vaccinate you. You may need to queue outside at peak times. We are sorry for this, and we are working as quickly as possible to vaccinate everyone.
Join our reserve list if you meet our current eligibility criteria. More information is available on our reserve list page.

"We do recognise that our Booking Team is very busy at the moment, and we recognise that this can be frustrating if you are trying to rearrange your appointment. We are very grateful to members of our team who are working extra hours to deal with all the enquiries. We are also increasing the staffing in our booking team, and are very grateful to Powys County Council who have been supporting us with this."

"Thank you to all our residents for your support for the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Powys continues to have the highest rates of first dose, second dose and booster uptake of all health boards in Wales. This is only possible because of the people of Powys."

More information about the booster programme in Powys is available from our booster pages.

Published 7 December 2021