The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has begun today in Powys
The first people in Powys to be given the new COVID-19 vaccination have received their first dose today (8 December 2020) at Bronllys Hospital.
Hundreds of health and care workers from the county are booked in for vaccination today and thousands more are booked in the run up to Christmas as part of this milestone development.
Eleri Tossell was the first person in Powys to receive the COVID vaccine when the vaccination centre opened this morning.
Eleri is a District Nurse from Ystradgynlais and said “I had the vaccine for protection, so that I can work and care for my patients safely. My husband had COVID back in April and was very poorly so I have seen first hand how serious this illness can be”
Dr Anja Pinhorn works at Brecon hospital and also received the vaccine this morning. She explained “I’m over 50, which makes the dangers of COVID even more serious. I’m pleased to have had the vaccine this morning and it didn’t hurt at all.”
Tammy Sully, Domiciliary care team leader and Trudy Smith Domiciliary Care worker explained “having the vaccine safeguards both our family and those we work with. We are really happy to be among the first people vaccinated. The process was really easy and we will be coming back for our second dose in the new year.”
The immunisation programme uses the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which has been approved for use by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency based on evidence of safety and effectiveness. Due to the very specific requirements for temperature control and storage for this vaccine, it is being provided to the county’s frontline health and care workers in the first instance from two vaccination hubs.
Work is well under way to expand the vaccination as quickly as possible to people in care homes and people over 80 years old. Decisions on vaccine availability are based on expert guidance from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
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 have been sent to them by their employer. Appointments are being offered in Bronllys (from 8 December) and Newtown (from 15 December) in the first instance, with clinics alternating between the two sites
More information on the vaccination programme in Wales is available from the Public Health Wales website.