All 16 GP practices in Powys will be vaccinating patients for coronavirus by the end of January.

It is part of plans to carry out almost 8,000 coronavirus vaccinations every week in the county before the end of this month.

Powys Teaching Health Board said more than 5,000 health and social care staff, and more than 900 people living in care homes will have received a vaccination by the end of January.

Vaccinations are already well under way in the county's three mass vaccination centres in Newtown, Builth Wells and Bronllys near Talgarth.

Every patient aged 80 or over will have received a letter by next week from the health board with their appointment at a Mass Vaccination Centre, or inviting them to book one.

The health board has asked people not to call their GP about a vaccination in order to make the process as smooth as possible.

Medical practice staff will be phoning people to make appointments as quickly as they are able. 

In line with the UK-wide four nation approach, second doses of vaccination will be booked for 11 weeks after the first.

A Powys Teaching Health Board spokesman said: "It is important to continue to follow the regulations on social distancing even after you have been vaccinated.

"The vaccine will reduce your chance of becoming seriously ill, but we do not know yet whether it will stop you from catching and passing on the virus.

"So it is vital that everyone contributes to follow the guidance on COVID-19 to protect themselves and others."