Over three quarters of adults in North Wales have now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and the local health board remains on course to offer vaccination to the remaining adult population before the end of July.

In the latest update from Betsi Cadwaladr, Gill Harris Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery said:

"This is the largest vaccination programme ever undertaken in the NHS and we simply could not have protected so many people so quickly without the expertise and dedication of our primary care colleagues in GP surgeries, Local Vaccination Centres and community pharmacies.

"I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all of our primary care partners for the swift and very positive way they responded to last week’s national change in guidance on the use of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine."

"Last week the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) changed their guidance to state that where possible, an alternative to the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine should be offered to 30-39 year-olds as a precautionary measure, because of the extremely small risk of blood clots occurring in this age group.

"As a result, those aged 18-39 will now receive the Pfizer vaccine, and those aged over 40 will receive the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.

"This short notice change unavoidably led to a number of appointments being cancelled last week, which have since been rearranged. We do not expect this change in guidance to delay the overall delivery of the vaccination programme in North Wales.

"Everyone who has already had a first dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine should be reassured that it is safe to receive a second dose of the same brand, irrespective of age, in line with JCVI advice. Medical exemptions may apply to a very small minority."

Vaccination progress as at May 11th 2021:

640,259 total vaccinations have been administered in North Wales
First dose vaccines – 433,350
Second dose vaccines – 206,909
Percentage of people in Priority Groups who have received a first dose:

People aged 65 to 69: 94 per cent
People aged 16 to 64 in an at risk group: 86 per cent
People aged 60 to 64: 89 per cent
People aged 55-59: 86 per cent
People aged 50-54: 85 per cent
People aged 40-49: 55 per cent
People aged 30-39: 22 per cent
People aged 18-29: 44 per cent