Booster plea as Wales sees Covid case rise
WALES is showing “early signs of a possible autumn wave” of Covid following a rise in hospitalisations and deaths, experts have warned.
Public Health Wales is now urging people in eligible groups to take up the offer of a booster vaccine to help protect them from serious illness.
Pregnant women, people aged 50 and over, those with a long-term health condition, and frontline health and social care workers are among those eligible for the free Covid-19 vaccine.
Last week more than 100,000 people in Wales had their booster jab when they were invited. However, PHW said there are still people who haven’t attended their vaccine appointment or have postponed it.
The NHS trust reiterated the invitation will be sent to people by post from their local health board. It said eligible groups are “strongly advised” to take up the offer and prioritise their appointment where possible.
Dr Christopher Johnson, interim head of the vaccine preventable disease programme for Public Health Wales, said: “Although it is too early to say for certain, we are currently seeing the possible early signs of an autumn wave of Covid19. While the proportion of severe infections is much lower compared to other stages of the pandemic, this pattern still remains concerning.
“While we have all been getting used to living with Covid, and while vaccination and overall population immunity are helping to keep serious illness at bay for most people, it is important that we do not become complacent.
“Everyone eligible for the booster vaccine can make a significant contribution to slowing down transmission of Covid, protecting themselves, their community and the NHS, by taking up the offer of a vaccine. Even if people are busy or have other plans, it is important to prioritise getting your booster when your appointment letter comes. It’s also vital that those who are eligible take up the offer of a flu vaccine to help protect themselves and others this winter.”
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) infection survey, which is based on a random sample, revealed last Friday that the estimated number of people in Wales testing positive for the virus for the week ending September 29 was 74,900, which equates to 2.47% of the population or around one in 40 people.
That’s up on the previous week when 2.09%, or one in 50 of Wales’ population, was thought to have Covid.
The Welsh Government said that the current rate of positive cases appears to be highest in Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Powys, while the region covering Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil has lower rates.
Across the UK, total infections have risen by 31% – the biggest jump since June.
The ONS said there has been a “notable rise” in cases among older age groups who are seeing the highest rates of admission to hospital.
Some 1.7 million people in private households across the UK are likely to have tested positive for coronavirus in the period September 23 to October 3, according to the ONS.
This is up from 1.3 million in the previous survey which covered the period September 18 to 26. Meanwhile, there are currently 455 “confirmed” positive Covid cases in Welsh hospitals, but only 14 of them are being actively treated for the virus, which equates to just 3%.