People in the 65-69 age bracket claim they are being "left behind" for coronavirus vaccines after being told they must book an appointment with their GP instead of attend a mass vaccination centre.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has confirmed that GP practices will be contacting priority group five - those aged between 65 and 69 - for their first dose from Monday, February 15.
However those in priority group six - those aged 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions - have been told they will be invited to a mass vaccination in Splott, Pentwyn or Barry.
Such a decision has prompted concerns that many in priority group six will end up receiving their jabs ahead of priority group five as mass vaccination centres can immunise a higher volume of patients more quickly.
In contrast, some GP surgeries have previously complained about struggling with vaccine supply and appointment demands.
Sue Thomas, a 65-year-old Cardiff resident, said she found herself "in tears" when she was told she would need to be given a vaccination appointment by her GP.
"I called up my GP and they said they would be unable to book me in until next week, but I know by that time thousands of people younger than me would have received their jabs already," she said.
"It just seems very unfair and puts people in the 65-69 category at a greater risk of harm."
Mrs Thomas, whose 73-year-old husband has received his first jab already, said she ended up managing to book herself a vaccine appointment at Velindre instead of waiting for her GP.
"I have been very patient throughout this vaccination rollout and I wanted to wait my turn," she added.
"But I now know of friends who are several years younger than me with very minor health problems who had the vaccine weeks ago.
"I soon realised I'd been too passive, thinking that the vaccine programme was going to run smoothly and fairly. But that isn't the case."
Find out about coronavirus cases near you:
In response, a spokeswoman for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: "As a health board we are working closely with our GP practices to roll out the mass vaccination programme.
“Our GP practices will be inviting priority group five, aged 65-69, from February 15 and priority group six, aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk from Covid, will be invited to our mass vaccination centres.
"We are vaccinating groups concurrently to reach as much of the population as we can so there will be occasions where some individuals may receive their vaccine before others.
"We appreciate people may be anxious as they wait but please be assured we are working through the groups as quickly as possible so we can protect the population of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan."
Latest data from Public Health Wales published on Monday shows that 784,809 people have now received a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, up 13,158 from the figure of 771,651 published 24 hours earlier. Meanwhile, 5,402 people have now received both doses of the vaccine.
Uptake of the first dose by priority group (according to PHW on Monday):
- 80 years and older: 163,415 (89.4%)
- Aged 75-79 years: 121,882 (90.6%)
- Aged 70-74 years: 164,972 (89.5%)
- Care home residents: 14,187 (81.6%)
- Care home workers: 35,165 (84.5%)
- Healthcare workers: 120,075 (percentage not given)
Health Minister Vaughan Gething said in the Welsh Government press conference on Monday that anyone over 70 in Wales who has not had a vaccination appointment needs to contact their health board.
“We’re getting to extraordinarily high numbers of people”, he said.
"People in the first four priority groups - that’s people over the age of 70 - if they haven’t had an appointment, then they should contact their health service."
