Community centre to open seven days a week for jabs

A VACCINATION centre will be increasing the number of Covid jabs given out, health bosses have confirmed.

The Community Vaccination Centre in Abercynon will be open seven days a week and increasing its capacity - meaning more people can be vaccinated and more quickly.

So far the unit has vaccinated thousands of individuals who work in front line health and social care - including staff from the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust.

However, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is aiming to expand its operations even further.

As well as boosting the number of jabs handed out at the Community Vaccination Centre at Ty Trevithick, other sites are also being planned to open in the coming weeks.

Last week it was also announced that Rhondda Sports Centre, in Ystrad, will be used as a Covid-19 Community Vaccination Centre from January 25, which will also operate seven days a week.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council leader Andrew Morgan said: “Rhondda Cynon Taf Council will do all we can to support the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine, which is crucial to helping us bring this health emergency to an end, and also to support our colleagues in the NHS so they can continue to care for those who need their help the most.

“The establishment of a Covid-19 Community Vaccination Centre in the council offices at Ty Trevithick, and expanding the capacity and operational hours at the site, as well as establishing a Community Vaccination Centre at Rhondda Sports Centre, will further help to deliver the vaccine to more people in a shorter time.

“Further to this, we have worked in partnership with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and identified sites to establish more Covid-19 Vaccination Centres across the County Borough, which we expect to become active over the coming weeks. We will be able to provide more details on these soon.

He added: “Residents can be assured that Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB are working in partnership to deliver the vaccine roll-out as fast as possible for residents, and we will continue to work in partnership to achieve the vaccination goals.

“Thousands of vaccinations have already been administered in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and this will only continue to increase. RCT Council will provide any support we can to support our partners in the NHS to deliver the

Covid-19 vaccine faster and to more people.”

To further support the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is also training staff to administer the Covid-19 vaccine, allowing NHS staff to continue to deliver vital care for those who need it most in hospital.

People must be invited to have a vaccination, and must have an appointment to attend. This is because the Covid-19 vaccine is currently being rolled out in priority order based on the level of risk faced by different groups from Covid-19.

The groups to be prioritised are decided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation at a UK level.

Paul Mears, Chief Executive of Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board, said: “These community vaccination centres and our on-going partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, means we are on course to achieve our aim to have vaccinated everyone in the top four priority groups in RCT by midFebruary.

“We have already administered 12,000 vaccines to RCT residents.

“I would like to thank everyone for your patience as all of us work together to deliver the biggest vaccination programme Wales has ever seen.

“When it’s your turn, we will contact you to book your appointment.”