THE first people in Powys to receive the Covid-19 vaccination have been given their first dose today at Bronllys Hospital.

Hundreds of healthcare workers from around the county are booked in for vaccination on Tuesday (December 8) and thousands more are booked in the run-up to Christmas as part of this milestone development.

Eleri Tossell was the very first person in Powys to receive the Covid vaccine when the vaccination centre opened this morning.

Eleri, a district nurse from Ystradgynlais in the south of the county, said: “I had the vaccine for protection, so that I can work and care for my patients safely.

“My husband had Covid back in April and was very poorly so I have seen first-hand how serious this illness can be.”

Dr Anja Pinhorn works at Brecon War Memorial Hospital and also received the vaccine. She said: “I’m over 50, which makes the dangers of Covid even more serious. I’m pleased to have had the vaccine this morning and it didn’t hurt at all.”

Tammy Sully, a domiciliary care team leader, and domiciliary care worker Trudy Smith added: “Having the vaccine safeguards both our family and those we work with.

“We are really happy to be among the first people vaccinated. The process was really easy and we will be coming back for our second dose in the new year.”

The immunisation programme uses the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, which has been approved for use by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHPRA) based on evidence of safety and effectiveness. Due to the very specific requirements for temperature control and storage for this vaccine, it is being provided to the county’s frontline healthcare workers in the first instance from two vaccination hubs.

Work is well under way to expand the vaccination as quickly as possible to people in care homes and people over 80. Decisions on vaccine availability are based on expert guidance from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

As soon as we are in a position to proceed with wider vaccination of members of the Powys public we will communicate this widely throughout Powys. Please do not contact your GP or pharmacist regarding the Covid vaccine at this time.

Invitations to healthcare workers in the first phase of this vaccination programme have been sent to them by their employer. Appointments are being offered in Bronllys and Newtown in the first instance.

More information on the vaccination programme in Wales is available from the Public Health Wales website.