Access to vaccination centres to only be via appointment
FROM next Wednesday, access to mass vaccination centres (MVCs) in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire for Covid-19 vaccinations will be by appointment only in preparation for the start of the winter vaccine programme.
Anyone wishing to drop in for their first or second dose during August is advised to check opening times on the day before travelling by visiting hduhb.nhs.wales/ healthcare/covid-19-information/ covid-19-vaccination-programme/ mass-vaccination-centres or calling 0300 303 8322 as these are subject to change.
If you still require a booster, health bosses say to wait to be offered an appointment.
From August 31 onwards, you are asked to book an appointment by calling 0300 303 8322 or by emailing COVIDEnquiries.hdd@wales.nhs. uk
Bethan Lewis, interim assistant director of public health at Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB), said: “Throughout the vaccination programme we’ve aimed to make the vaccine easily accessible through a combination of dropins and appointments. This change will allow us to deliver the Covid-19 in partnership with primary care and minimise the risk of duplication or vaccine waste.
“If you are eligible for an autumn Covid-19 booster, please wait to be invited by either your GP or the health board. Everyone eligible will be offered an appointment by November.
“GP practices are also preparing to invite eligible patients for their seasonal flu vaccine and aim to offer an appointment to everyone eligible by December. Again, please do not contact your GP practice at this time, you will be invited when it is your turn.”
Scheduled drop-in sessions for children and young people who are home-educated or not in education to access childhood vaccinations routinely offered through school nursing teams will continue as advertised at selected MVCs.
The remaining drop-in sessions for children aged 5 to 17 years of age will be held between noon and 6pm in the following locations:
Aberystwyth MVC (Thomas Parry Library, Llanbadarn Campus, SY23 3AS) - Tuesday 30 August
Carmarthen MVC (Y Gamfa
Wen, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, SA31 3EP) - Friday 2 September
Cwm Cou MVC (Ysgol Trewen, SA38 9PE) - Monday 22 August
Haverfordwest MVC (Pembrokeshire Archives, SA61 2PE) - Wednesday 31 August
Llanelli MVC (Dafen Industrial Estate, SA14 8QW) - Tuesday 23 August
These drop-in sessions are also open to any Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire or Ceredigion school attendees who may have missed their vaccinations.
If you are unable to attend one of these sessions and have any queries or wish for your child to receive their scheduled vaccines, please complete the form available here hduhb. nhs.wales/healthcare/services-andteams/immunisation-and-vaccination/childhood-and-young-peoplevaccinations/vaccine-access-forhome-schooled-children or call 0300 303 8322 to be contacted by a member of the health board’s immunisation nursing team.
For more information about the winter vaccine programme and eligibility for the Covid-19 and flu vaccines, visit gov.wales/winter-respiratory-vaccination-strategyautumn-and-winter-2022-2023