From Carol Shillabeer, Prif Weithredwr/ Chief Executive, Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol Powys/Powys teaching Health Board
COVID vaccination for health and care staff in Powys
Book your appointment online at bit.ly/powyscovidvaccine
Dear Colleagues,
I am delighted to confirm that the health board is now in a position to launch the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. This is the day we have been waiting for for many months This means that whilst there is still work underway that is critical for the start of the Programme, we believe that we are within a week of having quantities of the first vaccine delivered to Powys.
We want to be ready to vaccinate as soon as the vaccine arrives and so I can now confirm that the booking system is now live. The information we have been working with indicates that because of the specific characteristics of the first vaccine (Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine known as ‘Courageous’) we need people to come to the vaccine rather than be able to take the vaccine out to people.
This means that priority groups for the first vaccine will be health and care staff, particularly those in patient facing roles, and as we understand the details of the regulatory approval we will expand as quickly as possible to people in care homes and people over 80 years old. This decision is guided by Government and by the JCVI (Joint Committee for Vaccination and immunisation – a UK expert body on vaccine).
I don’t want us to waste a single minute in getting this vaccines administered to thousands of people. I therefore ask staff, particularly those in patient facing roles as a matter of priority, across the health board, social care sector and primary care to start booking appointment for the vaccine as swiftly as possible.
We are determined to use all available vaccine and therefore we will be working hard to ensure all booking slots are full and that we do not waste any vaccine.
We encourage everyone to book online as this is the quickest and easiest option. However if you do not have access to a computer or smart phone/tablet you can also book an appointment by calling 03456 027 053
Please do not share this link outside of health and social care organisations in Powys. Public vaccination is likely to start early in the new year. Eligible people will be contacted and invited to be vaccinated, please do not contact your pharmacist or GP about the vaccine at this time.
More info on the vaccination programme in Wales is available from the Public Health Wales website: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/
I hope you will join with me in recognising today as a key step in ensuring we can protect our patients, families and ourselves from the virus and an important milestone in coming through the pandemic.
Carol Shillabeer
Prif Weithredwr/Chief Executive
Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol Powys/Powys teaching Health Board
Ffon/Tel: 01874 615980
E-bost/Email: Carol.shillabeer2@wales.nhs.uk