Covid-19 Vaccine

Vaccine statistics 

In Wales, 2,469,038 have had at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine - around 89.7% - and 2,265,776 have had two doses - around 82.3% of Wales' population. Around 899,794 people have received a booster vaccine which represents 32.7% of those now eligible. 

Percentage of people who have received a booster vaccine:

  • 77% of care home residents.
  • 60.3% of care home workers.
  • 60.8% of health care workers.
  • 31,121 Social care workers.
  • 74.6% of those aged 80 or older.
  • 78.5% of those aged 75-79.
  • 73,8% of those aged 70-74.
  • 46.1% of those aged 65-69.
  • 18.3% of those aged 60-64.
  • 32.8% of those clinically extremely vulnerable. 

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board:

  • Administered 1.3 million doses of the vaccine from 353 different locations. 
  • Since the start of the booster programme in mid-September BCUHB has administered 222,775 booster jabs.
  • They aim to offer the booster vaccine to 90% of those eligible by mid-December. 
  • Following recent announcements by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) BCUHB will have to double the number of people they vaccinate each week - from the current rate of 25,000 - 30,000 per week to 60,000 by mid-January. 

Data published by the Office for National Statistics shows that unvaccinated people in England were 32 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than those who have been fully vaccinated.

12 to 16-year-olds

  • BCUHB began vaccinating healthy young people aged 12-15 from Monday 4th October.
  • From this date, those aged 12-15 can receive their vaccine by attending any of Betsi Cadwaladr's vaccination sites, where they will be running after school and weekend sessions. A vaccination appointment can be booked in advance by parents or guardians with parental responsibility through their online booking service.
  • A parent or guardian will need to provide consent on behalf of the young person and accompany them when receiving their vaccination.

Other information:

Since the programme began, there has been a total wastage of just 0.66 per cent (6,688 doses) by BCUHB.  Of the one million or so doses administered by BCUHB staff, just 545 (0.05 per cent) have been wasted because of human error.

 

Walk in clinics for 12-15-year-olds

Wrexham

  • Catrin Finch Centre - Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 5pm

Queensferry

  • Deeside Leisure Centre – Saturdays and Sundays from 09:00 to 19:00

St Asaph

  • Optic Centre – Saturdays and Sundays from 08:30 to 19:30

Llandudno

  • Sector House – Saturdays and Sundays from 08:30 to 19:30

Please remember that those aged between 12 and 15 years of age will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian when attending these walk-in clinics. 

 

How will people be vaccinated? 

People will be vaccinated at mass vaccination sites across the country, at local GP practices and community pharmacies, as well as at hospitals. 

When you are eligible for the vaccine (on Public Health Wales), you’ll be invited to receive the vaccine. People in care homes and those who are housebound will receive the vaccine in their homes.

The Welsh Government has said that vaccinating the population with a safe and effective vaccine will:

  • protect people from COVID-19
  • enable us to lift restrictions
  • help us to return to a more normal life

In North Wales, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will be using up to 19 vaccination centres as well as doctors surgeries, mobile immunisation teams and the military to roll-out the vaccine quickly.

The Health Board said:

We will continue to deliver the vaccine from our MVCs and HVCs. The aim is to reach as many people as quickly as possible, particularly those group identified as being most vulnerable. The supply of vaccines we receive will also continue to increase in coming weeks to help us do this. We are also starting to deliver the vaccine with the support of our primary care partners, and we will share more information about this in the coming weeks. As previously stated, this is particularly important given the large area we cover in North Wales. This will be supported by working with community pharmacy teams, who can provide further opportunities for people to get their vaccine as close to home as possible."

Further information

COVID-19 vaccine side effects

The NHS has said that the vast majority of people will experience mild side effects that should not last longer than a week. These include: 

  • a sore arm where the vaccine was injected
  • feeling tired or fatigued 
  • headache
  • feeling achy
  • feeling or being sick

If your symptoms get worse then call 111. 

Allergic reactions 

An extremely small number of people have had an allergic reaction to the Covid-19 vaccine, this means that if you have previously had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) then you should tell your healthcare staff.

Serious allergic reactions are rare. If you do have a reaction to the vaccine, it usually happens in minutes. Staff giving the vaccine are trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.