TEENS GETTING VACCINE JABS
TEENAGERS are now getting Covid jabs in Wales as the vaccination programme continues.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is now inviting in the 18 to 29-year-olds for their vaccine, and the latest figures from the health board show that 29,222 people aged between 18 and 29 have received the first dose, which is 30.3% of that age group.
A spokeswoman for the health board said: “We are currently sending out appointment letters so they should hear from us in the coming weeks.”
Swansea Bay University Health Board has opened its reserve list for those aged 18-29, while Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has opened its to anyone aged 25 and over.
The latest information from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in north Wales (from May 4) is that they have also started inviting people in the age group 18-29 for the first vaccination, and latest figures for that age group in the area show that 29% have had their first jab.
Hywel Dda Health Board, which covers Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, said: “Please do not contact the health board if you are aged 18-49 to ask about your vaccine appointment at this time.
“You will be contacted as soon as it is your turn.”
One mum, whose 19-year-old son received his first vaccine on Tuesday this week, said: “I think it’s important they vaccinate the teens as they are more likely to be mixing, plus he’s working in retail and we need the shops open.
“Customers feel safer if the staff are vaccinated.”
Latest figures from Public Health Wales show that 28.8% of 18-29s have had their first vaccination.
Last week, the doctor in charge of the vaccine programme in Wales said she is confident that the target of having all eligible adults vaccinated by the end of July is on track.
Dr Gill Richardson revealed that 90% of people over the age of 60 in Wales have been vaccinated, 95% of over-80s and 70% of people aged between 40 and 49 have been vaccinated – some of the best rates in the UK.
On the subject of supply, Dr Richardson said there had been some bumps along the way, but “the supply is fairly steady”.
She added: “It is still a little on the low side until we reach the middle of May, when we will see some vaccines coming in.
“We have got enough for rolling out all our second doses because we started very early on that programme back in February and we have been doing that gradually at the same time as the first doses.”
The infection rate across Wales now stands at 10.1 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days up to April 28 – a drop from 10.5.
The infection rate is now as low as it was at the end of August last summer.
Across Wales, 1,873,152 people have had a first vaccine dose, while 783,120 people so far have had the full two-dose course.