The Omicron variant of coronavirus has forced the Welsh Government to speed up its booster vaccine rollout.
Previously the target was for all eligible adults to be offered the jab by the end of January, but that has since been moved forward to the end of December in line with England and Scotland.
The mutant strain is known to be highly transmissible, but further research is ongoing into how unwell it will make the UK population. Either way, experts warn that two jabs is not enough to prevent symptomatic infection.
As part of the booster programme, Health Minister Eluned Morgan has confirmed that all available clinical staff will be redeployed to vaccination centres as the number of jabs offered daily soars.
"We're asking a huge amount of the NHS. We're asking staff to cancel leave and to work in clinics day and night up to and through Christmas to vaccinate hundreds of thousands of people in a matter of weeks," she said.
However, there remains significant confusion over how and when people will get the booster, and there are question marks over walk-in sessions and where in Wales they are taking place.
We've asked every health board to provide information on their booster rollouts and what its residents should expect.
Aneurin Bevan UHB
The health board said it has "greatly increased" the number of booster appointments it is offering, and has extended the opening hours and capacity of its vaccination centres to deliver as many jabs as possible.
As with first and second doses, it is vaccinating in line with JCVI guidance and has already offered booster doses to clinically at risk and extremely vulnerable residents in the area.
At present, the health board is not offering online bookings or walk-ins, but it is working through plans to identify which GP surgeries will be offering vaccinations.
Appointment offer method: Text and letters
Betsi Cadwaladr UHB
In just 16 days, the north Wales health board needs to administer more than 200,000 boosters into the arms of its residents.
"The logistics involved in more than tripling our current vaccination rate are extremely challenging, but we are confident that we can make booster jabs available to all eligible adults by December 31," a spokeswoman said.
"Over the next week, hundreds of additional staff and volunteers will join our vaccination effort. This will enable capacity at our existing vaccination clinics to increase and for them to open later. Additional clinics will also be introduced (including drop-ins) and many more GP practices and community pharmacies will begin delivering boosters."
The health board said that if people have not yet been invited for a booster, they will soon be able to book online or attend a walk-in clinic. However, it said further details on how to do this will follow shortly.
Some people may be invited directly by their GP practice or community pharmacy, but the health board has urged people not to phone up to enquire about appointments. Anyone who has an appointment in January will be contacted to change their slot to one in December.
Appointment offer method: Local online booking system and letters
Hywel Dda UHB
In the Hywel Dda area, walk-ins will be offered as an option for some people. These will be phased according to prioritisation in mass vaccination centres.
Those eligible to drop-in from Wednesday, December 15 include:
- Everyone aged 50 and over who received their second or third dose at least 13 weeks ago;
- Anyone aged 16 and over who received their second or third dose at least 13 weeks ago who either a) works in a care home b) is a frontline health or social care worker c) is an unpaid carer d) lives with someone who is immunosuppressed or e) is considered at risk of Covid-19 infection (priority groups 4 and 6).
"People who choose to drop-in are advised that booked appointments will be given priority and they should be prepared to potentially experience long waits, possibly outdoors, or be turned away if there are health and safety concerns at the centre," said a health board spokeswoman.
The mass vaccination centres open seven days a week for drop-ins for eligible groups are:
- 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) - United Counties 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 December 27, 30 and 31)
- Llanelli - Unit 2a, Dafen Industrial Estate, Heol Cropin, SA14 8QW (closes at 5pm on December 18 and at 4.30pm on Monday, December 27 and Thursday, December 30. Closed December 24, 25, 26 and 31 and January 1)
Tenby MVC (Tenby Leisure Centre, Marsh Road, SA70 8EJ) will be open for drop-ins between 10am and 6pm on the following days in December:
- Friday, December 17 to Sunday, December 19; Tuesday, December 21 to Thursday, December 23; and on Tuesday, December 28 to Thursday, December 30.
- Closed on the weekends of December 24 to 26 and December 31 to January 2.
Cwm Cou MVC (Ysgol Trewen, Cwm-Cou, SA38 9PE) is offering scheduled appointments only, due to social distancing and traffic management safety issues.
Appointment offer method: Text and letters, and targeted age range drop-ins
Swansea Bay UHB
The health board said it is increasing the rate at which it issues invitations to attend booster vaccination appointments which will start from Sunday, December 19.
"There will be some new vaccination locations which we are currently commissioning to come on line next week," a spokesman said.
In the meantime, the health board said people can help by:
- Attending existing booster appointments on the correct day and at the correct time;
- Not calling the health board booking team, other hospital departments, individuals, switchboards or the GP to ask when their booster is.
"You will be invited when it's your turn. Unlike England, you cannot book your booster by phone or online in Wales currently. Inquiries about dates for appointments are blocking many people who do have an appointment, but need to reschedule, from getting through. This can lead to wasted appointments."
The number of appointments at the Bay mass vaccination centre will balloon from around 2,000 to more than 4,000 daily.
"Much more is going on behind the scenes and we'll be updating on the booster position through the week as we know more."
Appointment offer method: Text and letters
Powys Teaching
Powys Teaching Health Board offered booster drop-in clinics this week for over 30s at Ystradgynlais Miners' Welfare Hall, the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, and Maldwyn Leisure Centre in Newtown.
Nearly half (46%) of people aged 18-plus have already received a booster in Powys, which represents more than half of people who have completed their primary course. This is the highest rate of all health boards in Wales.
Appointment offer method: Text and letters, and targeted age range drop-ins
Cardiff and Vale UHB
As with most health boards, Cardiff and Vale UHB is auto-scheduling booster appointments, with people receiving their details via a SMS message or a letter in the post.
"We have now begun using a two-way texting system for sending booster vaccination appointments. We will only ever ask you to respond using the options 1,2 or 3. We will never ask you to click a link or reply with any patient information. If you are unsure whether a text message is legitimate, then please contact us," a spokesperson said.
The health board said people can help by:
- Waiting to be contacted with the details of their booster appointment;
- Only calling the booking line to cancel or reschedule an appointment.
Cardiff and Vale UHB does not currently offer walk-ins for boosters.
Appointment offer method: Text and letters
Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB
Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB is currently only offering appointments via letter or text. No walk-ins/drop-ins for boosters are currently being offered.
On Facebook the health board said on December 13: "We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your patience. We will continue to update you as and when we have new information to share.
"We continue to ask that, if you have a December appointment already booked, please keep it. Due to the speed at which we are rolling this new stage of the vaccination programme out, we are unable to rearrange Covid-19 booster vaccination appointments for the next couple of days.
"We also ask that you do not contact us if you do not have an appointment right now – we will be in touch with you very soon.
"Our phone lines and social media channels were extremely busy with people trying to book an appointment. This meant that the people who really did need to get in touch with us struggled to do so.
"We know that it is a worrying time but as we have said all along, nobody will be left behind. You will be given a booster vaccination appointment in the coming weeks if you are eligible."
Appointment offer method: Text and letters
A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: "We will continue to prioritise vaccinating the most vulnerable first and follow the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice.
"Most people will receive a text, phone call or letter to allocate them a booster appointment.
"Health boards will also operate some walk-in sessions on an age basis for anyone who may not have been contacted or who cannot make their allocated appointment. They are also responsible for operating their own reserve lists and can use their operational flexibility to ensure no vaccine is wasted when people cancel or cannot make an appointment at short notice.
"We encourage everyone to check their local health board’s website and social media over the coming days for arrangements and eligibility. All health boards have now issued details for their updated plans on social media. Please do not call your health board or GP."
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