COVID-19 immunisation programme beginning in Powys

Powys Teaching Health Board is today inviting health and care workers in Powys to book for COVID-19 Vaccination.

Carol Shillabeer, CEO of Powys Teaching Health Board said: “This is the day we have been waiting for for many months. Whilst there is still work underway, we believe that we are within a week of having quantities of the first vaccine delivered to Powys. 

"The information we have been working with indicates that, because of the specific characteristics of the first vaccine (Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine), we need people to come to the vaccine rather than be able to take the vaccine out to people.

"This means that priority groups for the first vaccine will be health and care staff, particularly those in patient facing roles, and as we understand the details of the regulatory approval we will expand as quickly as possible to people in care homes and people over 80 years old.  This decision is guided by Government and by the JCVI (Joint Committee for Vaccination and immunisation – a UK expert body on vaccine).

"We want to be ready to vaccinate as soon as the vaccine arrives and so I can now confirm that the booking system is now live for health and care staff across Powys to book.

"As soon as we are in a position to proceed with wider vaccination of members of the public we will communicate this widely throughout Powys. Please do not contact your GP or pharmacist regarding the COVID vaccine at this time."

Invitations to health and care workers in the first phase of this vaccination programme are being sent to them by their employer. Appointments will be offered in Bronllys (from 8 December) and Newtown (from 15 December) in the first instance, alternating between the two sites.

More information on the vaccination programme in Wales is available from the Public Health Wales website.