Following the announcement from the Welsh Government, the health board in North Wales need to administer around 215,000 additional COVID-19 vaccinations in just 18 days.

Ffion Johnstone West Area Director Betsi Cadwaladr said:

"The logistics involved in more than tripling our current vaccination rate are extremely challenging, but we are confident that we can make booster jabs available to all eligible adults in North Wales by December 31st.

"We are working incredibly hard behind the scenes to make this happen - but we need time to put the necessary building blocks in place.

"Over the next week, hundreds of additional staff and volunteers will join our vaccination effort.  This will enable capacity at our existing vaccination clinics to increase and for them to open later. Additional clinics will also be introduced (including drop ins) and many more GP Practices and community pharmacies will begin delivering boosters.

"While some details still need to be worked through, this is how people can expect to access their booster vaccine:

"There are currently 60,000 booked appointments in place for North Wales residents during December. We are having to find an additional 230,000 appointments for those who are eligible but don’t yet have an appointment this month.

"It is therefore critical that if you have a booked appointment in December you keep to it. Don't contact us to rearrange as this slows down our efforts to protect others. You will be waiting until January for an alternative. 

"If you are housebound there is no need to contact us. We already have your details and are working as quickly as we can to get to you before the end of December.

"If you've not yet been invited to an appointment in December, you will soon be able to book one online using our online booking service.

"Appointments are being released in batches, to ensure that our IT infrastructure is able to manage demand.

"If you have received an appointment from 1st January onwards, you will be contacted via text with instructions on how to bring your appointment forward using our online booking service.

"Over the coming days we’ll be making 230,000 appointments available online at a range of clinics running across North Wales up until 31st December.

"Booking online helps guarantee that you will receive your jab and reduces the time you have to queue. It also helps ensure that we have the correct levels of staff and vaccine available at each clinic.

"Please note that if you turn up at a clinic which isn’t a designated drop in and you haven’t booked an appointment online, you will face a lengthy queue. We will only be able to offer you a jab if we are running ahead of schedule and have sufficient vaccine supply and staffing.

"Those who book ahead using our online booking service will always be prioritised in queues.

"Please make every effort to book before December 31st as our capacity to administer COVID-19 jabs will be significantly reduced during early January."

A smaller number of designated drop in and ‘pop up’ mobile clinics will be held between now and 31st December.

Some of these will be publicised online and in the local media. However, as others will target areas of high footfall (e.g. at supermarkets or shopping centres), where vaccine supply is likely to be used up very quickly, these will not necessarily be publicised in advance.