Please see the latest update and information from Adrian Osbourne - Programme Director (COVID-19 Vaccination and TTP)
Powys Teaching Health Board

"We have come through a very busy period over Christmas and into the new year, accelerating the booster programme in response to the Omicron variant.

Amidst these busy and challenging times, I was very touched that the Powys COVID-19 Vaccination Programme received the “Family of the Year” Award in the Powys County Times Community Heroes. It truly has felt like a big family, such an enormous team effort, to deliver such high levels of protection for our communities.

During this period we have also seen the relocation of our clinic in Newtown from Maldwyn Leisure Centre. The success of the programme in north Powys has only been possible because of the welcome and support we have been given by Freedom Leisure, with over 125,000 doses delivered since the clinic opened in January 2021.

Our main vaccination clinics are now in Park Street Day Centre Newtown, Bronllys Hospital and Royal Welsh Showground Llanelwedd. These latter two venues have delivered nearly 80,000 doses and 60,000 doses respectively, and my grateful thanks go to our hosts at Powys County Council and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society. We are also making plans to return to Ystradgynlais next month for a pop-up clinic.

As I write this bulletin we approach the second anniversary of the first lockdown on 23 March. This provides an opportunity for a day of reflection, to connect with each other through our grief and our hope for the future.

As we take cautious steps out of the restrictions under which we have all lived for the last two years, Welsh Government has published their COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy for 2022 as well as their plan for the long-term COVID-19 transition from pandemic to endemic “Together for a Safer Future”. Both documents reinforce how important the vaccination programme has been to enable the easing of restrictions. Vaccines have saved thousands of lives and significantly weakened the link between the infection, serious illness, hospitalisation, and death.

Here in Powys the uptake of the vaccine continues to be the highest of all health boards in Wales:

• 91.6% of adults have taken up their first dose, 89.6% have completed their primary course, and 79.2% have received their booster.
• 83.6% of 16-17 year olds have taken up their first dose, and 70.2% have received their second dose. Boosters are under way.
• 66.3% of 12-15 year olds have taken up their first dose, and 44.7% have received their second dose. In this age group boosters are currently only recommended for people in clinical risk groups.

Looking ahead it is clear that vaccination will continue to be a critical part of our response to coronavirus. A spring booster programme is just about to get under way, the offer of vaccination is now open to all 5-11 year olds, and drop-in opportunities remain available for people who have not yet taken up the offer. And the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has already indicated that there will be an autumn vaccination programme. We expect this will become an annual event to maintain high levels of immunity and help protect against new coronavirus variants. Look out for further details of the autumn booster later this year.

Later in this bulletin you will find more information about drop-in sessions, spring boosters, vaccination for 5-11 year olds, and other updates on the vaccination programme here in Powys and across the country.

Thank you for being part of its success."

Adrian Osborne
Programme Director (COVID-19 Vaccination and TTP)
Powys Teaching Health Board

Find out more about the vaccination program on the PTHB COVID Vaccination Webpage