THE vaccination process in Powys continues to move ahead at an unerring pace – with more than two thirds of the county’s adult population having now had their first jab.

A staggering 93 per cent of people in the highest priority groups have been given an initial dose, contributing to nearly 108,000 total doses so far.

“We have now delivered nearly 108,000 vaccine doses through the Powys Teaching Health Board Covid-19 vaccination programme,” the health board said in a statement on their website this morning (April 10).

“This includes over 81,300 first doses and over 26,600 second doses.

“Ninety three per cent of people in Priority Groups 1-9 in Powys have received their first dose, and nearly a third (32 per cent) have already received double-dose protection.

“Over two-thirds (70 per cent) of the adult population in the county have received their first dose.

“Last week (week ending April 4) saw over 9,000 vaccination doses delivered in the county.”

If you are aged 40+ and have not yet received your invitation then you can use PTHB’s priority access forms to let them know.

A reserve list for short notice first dose appointments is open for people aged 30-39, while a secondary reserve list for people aged 18-29 is also open.

They also have a priority access form for second dose appointments. If you received your first dose on or before January 31 and have not yet been invited for your second dose then a priority access form is available so that you can let health chiefs know and they can fast-track you to a second dose appointment. You may be aware that there will be reduced vaccine supply during April – PTHB have been advised that this will not affect second dose appointments.

An online Q&A session took place earlier this week and is available to watch online, and the health board’s latest newsletter was published on Friday.

PTHB have adopted the latest JCVI guidance in relation to the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, and the Welsh Government has published an update, saying “The Oxford AstraZeneca (OAZ) vaccine remains safe and effective and has already saved thousands of lives.

“The Welsh Government, Public Health Wales and NHS Wales are working with other agencies to continually monitor vaccine safety and will keep this issue under close review. In Wales, people’s safety will always come first and we will only use vaccines where it is safe to do so and the benefits continue to outweigh the risks.

“Vaccines are the best way out of this pandemic and provide strong protection against Covid-19 – it is important that when people are called forward, they should get their jab. To date, over 1.5 million people in Wales have received a first dose of the vaccine and a further 475,000 have also received a second dose.

“Everybody who has already had a first dose of the OAZ vaccine should be reassured that they can receive a second dose of the same brand, irrespective of age.”