MORE than 270,000 vaccinations have been administered in North Wales.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) say they remain "on course" to meet the Welsh Government’s target of offering vaccination to Priority Groups one to nine by April 19, subject to vaccine supplies.

Up until March 7, BCUHB had provided a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to 84 per cent of people aged 65-69 (Priority Group 5) and almost a third of people aged 16-65 with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality (Priority Group 6).

During the coming week, thanks to a significant increase in supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine, BCUHB will be able to accelerate the vaccination rollout across the network of primary care partners.

Gill Harris, deputy chief executive, said: "We also look forward to reaching the significant milestone of administering our 300,000 vaccination in the coming week.

"This week our supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine is more than double what we received last week, while our supply of the Pfizer vaccine has remained stable.

"This week we will receive a total of 67,680 vaccines (17,550 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 50,130 doses of AstraZeneca).

"The increase in supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine will enable us to better utilise our network of primary care partners to ensure that people most at risk from COVID-19 are vaccinated as quickly as possible

"The Pfizer vaccine will again be used primarily for second doses.

"Next week we expect to receive less of both vaccines."

Vaccination progress as of March 7 2021:

  • 271,037 total vaccinations have been administered in North Wales
  • First dose vaccines – 231,908
  • Second dose vaccines – 39,129
  • Percentage of vaccines administered to individuals in Priority Group 5: (65-69): 84 per cent
  • Percentage of vaccines administered to individuals in Priority Group 6: 28 per cent
  • Vaccination supply for the week ahead
  • Last week, due to production levels, the supply of vaccine available to all health boards was low, compared to what we received earlier in the programme.

This week the health board are continuing to provide vaccination to the following groups, with invitations made by letter, text message and phone call:

  • People aged 65-69 (Priority Group Five)
  • People aged 16-64 years with underlying health conditions (Priority Group Six)
  • Second doses to those who have received their first vaccination up to 12 weeks ago
  • Letters are also being sent to those aged 60-64 (Priority Group Seven) offering them appointments later this month.

Ms Harris added: "Following recent announcements from the Joint Council for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the Welsh Government, people with learning disabilities, severe mental illness and unpaid carers are now included in Priority Group Six.

"Revised national guidance from the JCVI describes unpaid carers as those who are eligible for a carer’s allowance, or those who are the sole or primary carer of an elderly or disabled person who is at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality and therefore clinically vulnerable.

"Those not already registered as a carer with their GP practice will soon be asked to complete an online registration form if they wish to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. This form is live on our website from today (March 9 2021). Following return of the digital form to the health board, those individuals identified as unpaid carers will be included within Priority Group 6 and will be sent an appointment letter over the coming days.

"In order to reach out to carers via non-digital methods we are liaising with partners from the North Wales Social Care and Wellbeing Improvement Collaborative."

Who should contact the COVID-19 Vaccination Booking Centre?

The Covid-19 Vaccination Booking Centre number should only be used by people invited by letter or text message, or by people in Priority Groups One to Four who want the Covid-19 vaccine but haven’t yet been able to take up an appointment.

Priority Groups One to Four includes people aged 70 years and over and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and on the shielding list.

People in this group may not have been able to take up an appointment because they have had Covid within the last 28 days, or been ill for other reasons; they’ve had a different vaccination within the last seven days; or they may not have wanted the vaccine when it was first offered.

BCUHB say "the door is always open for anyone who has changed their mind."

Ms Harris said: "Later this week we will begin to invite people aged 65-69, who have not yet had an appointment for their first dose, to contact our booking centre. This will be communicated via social media, our website and local community networks.

"Telephone number for our Covid-19 Vaccination Booking Centre: 03000 840004. Opening hours are 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. Lines can be very busy so please bear with us and only call if you’ve been invited to do so, or you’re in the priority groups described above."