Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board first in Wales to carry out 100,000 covid vaccines

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has become the first in Wales to administer more than 100,000 coronavirus vaccines.

Details released by the health board yesterday – which is already three days out of date – shows that so far 96,370 people in North Wales had received their first COVID-19 Vaccination.

35,300 of which were recorded as having received their first vaccination between January 25 and 31.

Overall 91% of Priority Groups 1 and 2 – which includes over 80s, healthcare workers and care home residents and staff – have received their first vaccination dose compared to 63% this time last week.

A total of 183,000 people across the region are eligible for a vaccine in the first early priority groups.

Gill Harris, deputy chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “As of Monday 1 February, we reached an important milestone. We became the first Health Board in Wales to administer over 100,000 vaccines.

“This is a significant achievement and is testimony to the hard work of the local health services.

“By the end of January, we had vaccinated all of our care home residents, except at homes where there has been a recent outbreak of COVID-19 or patients who themselves are recovering from COVID-19. Arrangements are in place to complete the outstanding care homes once it is safe to do so.

“With the vaccine supplies that we are expecting, we are on track to vaccinate those in priority groups 1-4 by the middle of the month. Over the next fortnight, we are expecting nearly a further 100,000 vaccines.”

Currently vaccines are being administered in GP surgeries, Mass Vaccination Centres in the region’s Rainbow Hospitals and in Local Vaccination Centres – one of which is based in the Catri Finch Centre in Wrexham.

Over the next two weeks the health board expects to deliver a further 100,000 vaccines – 39,100 Pfizer vaccines and 59,000 AstraZeneca vaccines.

Gill Harris added: “The majority of the first two priority groups are now completed and we are now inviting the over 75s, over 70s and the clinically extremely vulnerable for their vaccines.

“We are on target to complete Priority Groups 1-4 by mid-February, in line with the Welsh Government target.”

Anyone over the age of 80 who has not received a vaccine or an appointment is being asked to contact 03000 840004 to arrange a date.