ABOUT 100,000 vaccinations have been administered in North Wales this week.

Ffion Johnstone, West area director at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), said: "This week, with a reduced supply, we will pass the milestones of providing 300,000 first doses and 400,000 total vaccinations.

"Because of significant delays to the UK’s Covid vaccine supply, from early April we will receive less vaccine than we had planned for.

"As a result, first dose appointment invitations for people in Priority Groups Six to Nine may arrive later than we had indicated in our update on March 16. Appointments for second doses are unaffected."

People are asked to be patient.

Ms Johnstone added: "We are working as fast as we can with the supply we have. If we had more, we could do more.

"If you’re in Priority Groups Six to Nine and you’ve not yet been called, please don’t contact your GP or our Covid-19 Vaccination Contact Centre – you will be contacted when it is your turn. It won’t be too much longer now.

"Despite this setback, which is beyond our control, we remain on course to meet the Welsh Government’s target of offering a first dose of the vaccine to Priority Groups One to Nine by April 19, and to the rest of the population by the end of July, subject to there being no further interruption to our vaccine supply."

Covid-19 Vaccination Contact Centre

Residents are also asked to contact the Covid-19 Vaccination Contact Centre if invited to do so.

Ms Johnstone said: "Our Covid-19 Vaccination Contact Centre team can only cancel or amend appointments for people who have received an invitation by letter or text message. They are unable to book new appointments over the phone for people who have not received an appointment invitation.

"Please only call if: You have been invited to contact us to cancel or amend an appointment; You are in Priority Groups One to Five and you haven’t yet been able to take up a first appointment (people calling from Priority Groups 1-5 will have their contact details taken and will receive a call back to book an appointment).

"Priority Groups One to Five includes people aged 65 years and over and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and on the shielding list.

"Our phone lines are extremely busy, due to the number of people calling who are waiting for appointment invitations. This is preventing people who have received invitations from getting through.

"We continue to ask people to be patient, as we are working as fast as we can with the supply we have."

Vaccination progress as at March 21 2021:

  • 369,766 total vaccinations have been administered in North Wales
  • First dose vaccines – 291,466
  • Second dose vaccines – 78,300
  • Percentage of people in Priority Group Five who have received a first dose: (ages 65 to 69): 91 per cent
  • Percentage of people in Priority Group Six who have received a first dose (ages 16 to 64 in an at risk group): 69 per cent

Vaccination supply for the week ahead

Ms Johnstone said: "This week we will receive around 35,000 vaccines. Our Pfizer allocation will continue to be used for second doses. The majority of our Oxford-AstraZeneca allocation will be used for first doses, with a small amount reserved to begin second doses."

This week BCUHB will continue to provide vaccinations to the following groups, with invitations made by letter, text message and phone call:

  • People aged 65-69 years (Priority Group Five)
  • People aged 16-64 years with underlying health conditions (Priority Group Six)
  • People aged 60-64 years (Priority Group Seven)
  • Second doses to those who have received their first vaccination up to 12 weeks ago
  • In Priority Groups Six to Nine, that have not been contacted, are asked to be patient.

New text message appointment service

BCUHB have started sending out a new text message invite for Covid-19 vaccination appointments that is slightly different to what has been sent out previously.

Ms Johnstone said: "The new text message will include your appointment details and you will be able to respond directly if you are unable to make the appointment.

"In addition to a text message, you will also receive an invitation letter by post containing details of your vaccination appointment. Please let us know if you are unable to attend.

"Please remember, we will never ask for copies of your personal documents or bank details to book an appointment."

Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine safety

"Please be assured that the COVID-19 vaccines currently licensed for use are safe and effective," Ms Johnstone said.

"The results from a US trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine show that it is 79 per cent effective at stopping symptomatic COVID-19 disease and 100 per cent effective at preventing people from falling seriously ill.

"There were no safety issues with blood clots identified.

"The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), World Health Organisation (WHO), Public Health Wales and Wales’ Chief Medical Officer Frank Atherton have all confirmed its safety."

Reassurance over our Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic at Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley this weekend

BCUHB will hold a Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic at Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley to administer second doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Ms Johnstone said: "Because of the high incidence of COVID-19 in the Holy Island/Ynys Cybi area, some residents have raised concern about the safety of this clinic.

"I would like to reassure anyone due to attend that there will be strict adherence to social distancing measures in place, as well as full Covid precautionary measures including use of PPE and cleaning between each attendee.

"Whilst residents of Holyhead are encouraged not to travel unless essential, coming for your vaccination is an essential journey and the current outbreak should not prevent individuals from attending for vaccination. Do not attend the vaccination clinic if you are waiting for the result of a Covid test, have had a positive Covid test, and are in the isolation period, or if you have any symptoms of Covid.

"Vaccination against Covid will help to reduce future outbreaks such as this and it is the most important way to provide protection to the community."

Plans for Mass Vaccination Centres

The three Mass Vaccination Centres (MVCs) continue to play a crucial role in ensuring that the vaccine gets into the arms of those most at risk as quickly as possible.

Ms Johnstone said: "This is only possible because of the incredible support of our partners at Flintshire County Council, Conwy County Borough Council and Bangor University.

"As we look ahead to offering vaccination to all eligible adults by the end of July, we have agreed with our partners that the MVCs at Ysbyty Enfys Deeside and Ysbyty Enfys Llandudno will be handed back by July 31.

"A gradual decommission of Ysbyty Enfys Bangor will begin in April and will be completed by September.

"We have plans in place to continue to provide vaccination through our network of Local Vaccination Centres (LVCs) after these dates, and I want to provide an assurance that the speed and safety of the Covid-19 vaccination rollout will not be compromised. We will share further information on our plans to utilise LVCs in the coming weeks."