...but new vaccine IS now being rolled out across region
MORE people in West Wales will start to be called in for Covid-19 vaccinations this week as a result of news that the new Oxford/astrazeneca vaccine has been approved for use by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
Batches of the newlyapproved coronavirus vaccine from Oxford University and Astrazeneca have started arriving at hospitals ahead of the jab’s roll-out.
Some 530,000 doses of the vaccine will be available for roll-out across the UK this week, with vulnerable groups already identified as the priority for immunisation.
As it can be kept at normal fridge temperature this vaccine is much easier to administer when compared with the jab from Pfizer and Biontech, which needs cold storage of around -70C.
Roll-out of the Pfizer/ Biontech jab began almost a month ago, with more than a million people across the UK having already received their first coronavirus jab.
Second doses of either vaccine will now take place within 12 weeks rather than the 21 days that was initially planned with the Pfizer/biontech jab following a change in guidance which aims to accelerate immunisation.
In a statement on Saturday, Hywel Dda University Health Board said while it had so far given 7,000 Pfizer jabs, “logistical constraints” including “storage, transportation, and administration” meant the doses had been “provided to care home staff and patient-facing NHS and care workers”.
The statement continued: “From [this] week the health board will receive initially limited supplies of the Oxford/astrazeneca vaccine but building up to far greater volumes through January.
“The priority [this] week will be through a small number initially of GP practices to call in the over-80s for vaccination locally as well as continuing to vaccinate care home staff and NHS and care workers with the Pfizer vaccine supplies.
“Work is ongoing in conjunction with primary care colleagues so that by mid-january a growing number of GP practices will be calling patients in for the vaccine, as well as providing vaccination for more care home residents.
“Health and care staff will continue to also be called in for vaccination in the mass centres in Carmarthen and Cardigan.
“The health board is also working on setting up more community-based vaccination centres to support health board and primary care delivery in Aberystwyth, Llanelli and Haverfordwest as more vaccine doses are provided. Announcements will be made when details are finalised and the sites will be phased in according to logistical arrangements.”
Hywel Dda chief executive Steve Moore said: “We acknowledge there has been a challenge in starting what is the biggest mass vaccination programme the NHS has ever seen. But we are really pleased to have already vaccinated thousands of people. We are so grateful for the new hope the Oxford/astrazeneca vaccine offers our communities. It is a far easier vaccine for us to take into our communities and we are grateful to all the teams working to achieve and expand this programme.
“We would ask our communities to bear with us. Please don’t phone your GP or hospital to find out when your vaccine will be, but be reassured that they will call you in at the appropriate time. But also please get ready to accept the vaccine when you are offered it. It will offer you great protection from the disease that has so drastically affected all our lives.”
Dr Sion James, deputy medical director for primary care and community services, added: “This is an exciting time for primary care contractors to be part of an historical vaccination programme, working collaboratively with our colleagues in the health board.
“We ask that patients wait until they are called to be vaccinated as we will be working through the JCVI priority groups to ensure fair and equitable access to the vaccine.”