Thousands of people are now being invited to have their Covid booster in west Wales after the local health board expanded its vaccination programme.
Anyone in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire aged over 35, who had their second dose at least 13 weeks ago, can now travel to a mass vaccination centre and receive their 3rd jab.
In addition to which, anyone aged over 16 who works in a care home, is a frontline health or social care worker or an unpaid carer, who lives with someone who is immunosuppressed or who is considered at risk of Covid-19 infection is also eligible to attend one of the drop-in sessions, also if they had their second jab at least 13 weeks ago.
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The move has been carried out by Hywel Dda University Health Board - which manages healthcare across the three counties - in a bid to achieve the “ambitious aim of offering all eligible adults a booster by December 31”.
The health board is, however, urging people who have already received a letter or text message with details of a scheduled appointment to stick to that allotted date and time if possible, whether that be at a mass vaccination centre, a GP surgery or a local community pharmacy. Health bosses say their focus is ensuring that people continue to be given an appointment in priority order based on age and vulnerability.
Scheduled appointments will continue to be issued at an increased pace, either by letter or text message.
A spokesperson for Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “We are working with GP practices, to bring on board any that are able to deliver more booster vaccines locally. This has to be carefully balanced against the practice’s ability to maintain the delivery of core services. We also have a number of community pharmacies who have committed to participating in the programme and they will locally publicise the times of their clinics for booster delivery.
“Please do not call your GP surgery or community pharmacy to ask about the Covid-19 vaccine. If your GP practice is participating in the booster programme they will contact you directly and offer you an appointment, please accept it if they do.
“Housebound patients will be supported by local GP practices, where their staffing allows, whilst in other areas our community vaccination team will arrange to visit and offer vaccination. If you have already contacted the health board with your details you do not need to contact us again as we are working through the lists with our GP teams.
“Care homes are being contacted urgently to ensure all residents are offered a booster and will be supported by GP practices and our community vaccination team. If the care home has already contacted us with these details they do not need to contact us again as we are working through these lists with our GP teams.”
In addition to the booster jab, first doses will be available at drop-in centres for anyone aged 12 and over (over-16s only at the drive-through at Nantyci Showground in Carmarthen), while second doses will be available at drop-in centres for anyone aged 16 and over if it has been at least eight weeks since their first dose. Those aged 12 to 15 are asked to wait for an appointment or drop-in if it has been more than 12 weeks since the first dose was received (over 16s only at the drive-through at Nantyci Showground in Carmarthen).
The opening times and locations of the mass vaccination centres open for drop-ins are outlined below:
- Aberystwyth - Thomas Parry Library, Llanbadarn Campus, Aberystwyth University, SY23 3AS (closed December 24, 25, 26 and January 1. Open until 4pm on Monday December 27).
- Carmarthen (walk-in) - Y Gamfa Wen, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, SA31 3EP (closed December 24, 25, 26, closing December 31 at 2.30pm and closed January 1).
- Carmarthen (drive through – over 16s only) - Nantyci Showground, SA33 5DR (closed December 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, and January 1).
- Haverfordwest - Pembrokeshire Archives, Prendergast, SA61 2PE (closed December 24, 25, 26 and January 1. Closes 2.30pm on December27, 30 and 31).
- Llanelli - Unit 2a, Dafen Industrial Estate, Heol Cropin, SA14 8QW (closes at 5pm on December 18 and at 4.30pm on December 27 and December 30. Closed December 24, 25, 26 and 31 December and January 1).
The health board added that anyone not living near a drop-in centre, or anyone who could not attend a centre due to health or mobility reasons, is asked to contact the Covid enquiries department either by e-mailing covidenquiries.hdd@wales.nhs.uk or by calling 0300 303 8322.
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