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Vaccination update

From Gill Harris – Executive Director of Nursing & Midwifery 

Vaccinating healthy children aged 5-11

This week we will begin writing to the parents of healthy children aged 5-11, inviting them to book a vaccination appointment for their child.

Appointments can be booked by calling our COVID-19 Vaccination Contact Centre on 03000 840004. Telephone lines are open 8am-6pm Monday to Friday and 9am-1pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that children aged 5-11 should be offered the vaccine to increase protection against potential future waves of COVID-19.

We’re encouraging parents and children to make an informed decision about whether to go ahead with vaccination, based on up-to-date information from trusted sources. This week Public Health Wales have published information on their website to support this.

We understand that some young children may be anxious about coming to an unfamiliar setting to receive their vaccine. Our children’s clinics will be significantly quieter than the booster clinics held during the latter part of 2021, and our experienced staff can take the time to support children and put them at ease, before they receive their vaccine.

The COVID-19 vaccine has already been offered to all children aged 5 to 11 who are in a clinical risk group, or who are a household contact of someone who is immunosuppressed. Those who have yet to take up this offer are invited to call our COVID-19 Vaccination Contact Centre on 03000 840 004.

Second booster dose for the most vulnerable

The JCVI has advised that an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to:

  • adults aged 75 years and over, residents in a care home for older adults, and 
  • individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed, as defined in the Green Book.

The JCVI has not recommended that frontline health and social care staff receive a second booster dose at this stage.

We will soon begin offering this second booster dose to residents in care homes for older adults and those aged over 75 who are housebound. Invitation letters will then be sent to remaining adults aged 75+, and those aged 12+ who are immunosuppressed.

There is no need for people eligible for a second booster dose to contact their GP or the health board. We will contact you directly when it is your turn.

First, second and booster doses

The door is always open for those who have yet to come forward for their first, second or booster dose. Those eligible can attend any of our drop in clinics, where they will receive a warm welcome from our friendly staff, who can also take the time to discuss any concerns they may have.