‘Reserve’ list for vaccination after no-shows

PEOPLE between the ages of 40 and 49 can now join a “reserve list” for a Covid-19 vaccine to fill the slot of anyone who misses their appointment.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, which covers Bridgend, RCT and Merthyr Tydfil, is setting up the list following a “slight increase” in no-shows among people over 50 at their mass vaccination centres.

To make sure any cancelled appointments are filled, and that no vaccine is wasted, the health board is inviting 40 to 49-year-olds to apply to be put on their reserve list.

Anyone who applies must be willing to be phoned at short notice for an appointment at one of the mass vaccination centres.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB’s director of planning and performance, Clare Williams, said: “I want to reassure everyone this isn’t a big problem but we have seen over the past couple of weeks a small number of people fail to show for their appointments which is something we want to address.

“No vaccine has been wasted because of this but the reserve list will make sure we continue to use every single dose available.”

The appointment letters for the mass vaccination centres include contact details for anyone who cannot make the appointment or does not wish to receive a vaccine to notify the health board.

Clare added: “In a programme of this scale we are really grateful when people do their absolute best to make their appointment and we do understand that won’t always be possible.

“All we’re asking is that you let us know if you won’t be turning up for whatever reason. That means we can make sure your appointment goes to someone else.”

The health board said appointment letters have now been sent to all over-50s in the region and will be landing on doorsteps “in the next week or two”.

More than one in two people living in Cwm Taf Morgannwg have already received their first dose and the health board said it is confident it will achieve its aim of vaccinating all of the key priority groups by the middle of April.

Clare added: “It’s incredible to think how much our teams have achieved in such a short period of time. We have nearly given a quarter of a million vaccines.

“That’s down to all our vaccination teams, our primary care colleagues, our local authority partners, and all the various teams across so many different departments all working together to make this such a success.

“Thanks go to our communities as well for working with us and being so patient. We are determined to have offered a vaccine to all adults in Cwm Taf Morgannwg by the end of July.

“I think it’s important to stress as well that no-one is protected until we are all protected.”