MORE people in Powys are to be invited for their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

Powys Teaching Health Board has today started to invite Powys residents over the age of 80 to book their Covid-19 vaccine following a successful test run this week.

This is a key milestone for us all as the vaccine programme looks to expand significantly over the next few weeks.

With nearly 10,000 people aged 80 and over living in Powys it will take several weeks to complete this phase of the vaccination programme.

The health board continues to remind people not to contact their GP or pharmacist to request the COVID-19 vaccine, as everyone will receive a direct invitation.

In order to ensure that as many people as possible receive protection as soon as possible, Powys Teaching Health Board, along with all other health boards in Wales, is postponing the second dose of the vaccine for those health and care staff who have already received one dose.

Second doses will now be given 11 weeks after the first dose. This is following UK guidance and Welsh Government requirements.

Those who have had their first jab can be reassured they will have a good level of protection. Data indicates that from three weeks after the first dose is given, both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines provide a high level of protection from Covid-19 until the second dose. For both vaccines the second dose completes the course and is important for longer term protection. Everyone will still receive their second dose and this will be within 12 weeks of their first.

Even after vaccination with a first dose people are advised to continue to take measures to protect themselves: to keep a distance, wash their hands more often, and wear a face covering. The effects of the both vaccines on transmission is still unknown.

The invitation letter offers the opportunity to book an appointment at one of the county’s three vaccination hubs in Newtown, Builth Wells (opening on January 12) and Bronllys.

Yesterday Claire Cross was one of the first people over the age of 80 in Powys to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Claire received her first dose in Bronllys as part of a pathfinding exercise ahead of rolling out the vaccine to more people in the New Year. The pathfinding exercise has been successful and marks a really key milestone for Powys in now taking forward the wider, ambitious vaccination programme.

Claire said “It was really easy, everyone has been very friendly and I felt relaxed from the moment I arrived. It was very important to me to get the vaccine today, I have been shielding for a long time and I have been looking forward to getting back to interacting with others and singing in the local choirs I am a member of.”

More information about COVID-19 vaccination in Powys is available from the Powys Teaching Health Board website. https://pthb.nhs.wales/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccination/

Frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccination are available from the Public Health Wales website. https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information