The vast majority of vaccination appointments for the remainder of people in Priority Groups 5-9 not yet vaccinated in North Wales have been booked and invitation letters sent in the post last week.

Most of the appointment letters have been delivered, but a small number may arrive in the coming days, because of bank holiday postal arrangements. Priority Groups 5-9 includes people aged 50 and over and those aged 16-70 in an at risk group.

From Dr Chris Stockport, Executive Director of Primary and Community Care at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “We have also sent a significant number of invitations to people in their forties as we look ahead to offering vaccination to the remainder of the adult population in reverse age order before the end of July.

“We are determined to not leave anybody behind, so if you are in Priority Groups 1-5 (aged 65 or over or are clinically extremely vulnerable) and have not yet been able to take up an appointment, please call our COVID-19 Vaccination Contact Centre on 03000 840004. The lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm and Saturday to Sunday, 9am to 1pm.

“If you’re in Priority Groups 6-9 (aged 50-64 or aged 16-70 and in an at risk group), and you’ve not been able to take up an appointment, we’ll contact you to offer you another appointment in the coming weeks. Please be patient and don’t contact your GP or our COVID-19 Vaccination Contact Centre unless you need to cancel or amend an existing appointment.”

Vaccination progress as of April 5th 2021:

  • 447,420 total vaccinations have been administered in North Wales
  • First dose vaccines – 334,670
  • Second dose vaccines – 112,750
  • Percentage of people in Priority Groups who have received a first dose:
  • Priority Group 5 (ages 65  to 69): 93%
  • Priority Group 6 (ages 16 to 64 in an at risk group): 81%
  • Priority Group 7 (ages 60 to 64): 83%
  • Priority Group 8 (ages 55-59): 69%
  • Priority Group 9 (ages 50-54): 46%

Vaccination supply for the week ahead

Of the 25,000 vaccines allocated to the health board this week, over half will be used for second doses.

Who are currently being vaccinated and how they will be contacted

This week the health board are continuing to provide vaccination to the following groups, with invitations made by letter, text message and phone call:

  • People aged 65-69 years (Priority Group 5)
  • People aged 16-64 years with underlying health conditions (Priority Group 6)
  • People aged 60-64 years (Priority Group 7)
  • People aged 55-59 years (Priority Group 8)
  • People aged 50-54 years (Priority Group 9)
  • Second doses to those who have received their first vaccination up to 12 weeks ago
  • People in Priority Groups 1-4 who were not able to take up an appointment when they were originally invited

Dr Stockport added: “If you receive an invitation for an appointment but are sure that you do not wish to be vaccinated then please let us know so that we can offer that appointment to somebody else.

“Because appointment invitations for Priority Groups 5-9 have already been sent in the post, we may invite people in their forties to receive vaccination at short notice, to fill missed appointment slots.

“There is no formal reserve list that people in their forties need to apply to join – we will use our existing records to contact you.”