Concern over gulf between teen jab offers and take-up
THE Welsh Government has confirmed it has offered a Covid jab to all 12 to 15-year-olds by its target date.
However, there remain reports that some children in this age group, along with their parents, have yet to receive an appointment letter by their health board.
In September it was announced that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine would start to be administered to 12 to 15-year-olds from Monday, October 4, in mass vaccination centres and schools.
It followed advice from the UK’s four chief medical officers who concluded that a comprehensive rollout of the vaccine would help to reduce - but not eliminate – education disruption.
At the time, Health Minister Eluned Morgan said that all children in this age group would get the jab by the end of October, with the rollout ramping up during the half-term holidays.
Yesterday, this was confirmed by her in a statement which read: “I am delighted to confirm that we have achieved two commitments made in our vaccination strategy for autumn and winter ; to offer all 12 to 15-yearolds a Covid-19 vaccination and to offer all eligible care home residents their booster by November 1. Twelve to 15-year-olds could either attend at a time allocated in their appointment letters or at walk-in clinics. We will continue to make the offer available to those who have not yet been able to take up the vaccine.”
However, according to Public Health Wales, less than half (45%) of 12 to 15-year-olds have actually had the vaccination, with 69% of care home residents and 55% of care home staff receiving their booster vaccination.
The Welsh Government expects to be able to offer the majority of people in priority groups one to nine a booster appointment by the end of this year.
Baroness Morgan added: “These are fantastic achievements and I am incredibly proud of everyone who has made this possible, including all our NHS Wales colleagues, wider partners, volunteers, and everyone that has taken up the offer of this life saving vaccination.
“Health boards are continuing to vaccinate those who are eligible for their booster when at least six months have passed since their second dose. Those who are eligible for a booster will automatically receive an invitation to attend an appointment when it is their turn.
“I am fully committed to our principle of leave no one behind, and you are still able to get your first or second dose if you have not had it yet. The vaccine is a vital step in our way out of the pandemic and keeping Wales safe.”
Speaking at the Welsh Government briefing in Cathays Park yesterday,
Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters was quizzed by journalists over a claim some people in the 12-to-15 age category had not yet received a vaccine appointment.
“My 13-year-old daughter had a letter yesterday for an appointment last night, so I think as far as we’re aware everybody should have had a letter,” he said.
“It’s entirely possible that there are some who’ve not quite caught up with it yet. If they haven’t heard then they should call the helpline number on the Welsh Government website for the local health board. There’s a call centre you can get hold of to see if there are spare slots, but if they haven’t heard yet they should be hearing imminently.
“Already we’ve reached a significant number of young people, and for those who haven’t had a jab it’s vital you do have a jab.”
Welsh Conservative and Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS said the current uptake of the booster jab “concerns” him.
“I think numbers would be much higher if people did not have to wait to be invited, instead having the option of a walk-in centre,” he said.
“Given the worry that ministers express about coronavirus rates in Wales, I am surprised that this is not the priority of the Labour Government right now, who instead think expanding the use of vaccine passports is a better use of time and energy when they have been nothing more than an ineffective limiting of our liberties that fail to increase uptake of the vaccine or limit the spread.
“Meanwhile, people in England can walk into a centre for their booster jab but those in Wales can’t. It is not acceptable that Welsh people cannot access the same level of safety as our English cousins. I hope the Minister changes her mind and urgently acts on our reasonable calls.”