May 07, 2021 - 1614 views
Gill Harris, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board has updated on the latest vaccination situation in North Wales and warned of a growing problem with people failing to attend vaccination appointments.
So far over 400,000 people in North Wales have now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and the health board is currently looking to offering vaccination to all eligible adults before the end of July.
This week invitations will be made by letter, text message and phone call to people in Priority Groups 1-9 who were unable to receive their vaccination when it was first offered.
This includes people aged 50+; people aged 16-64 with certain underlying health conditions; unpaid carers; and those living with people who are immunosuppressed. People aged 18-49 years in Priority Group 10 will also begin to receive invitations.
Gill Harris also highlighted problems with some people failing to attend the centres. "We are seeing a growing problem with people failing to attend vaccination appointments.
"Vaccines are never thrown away, but each missed appointment wastes vital NHS resources and creates significant logistical challenges for our staff, who are pulled away from other duties to contact people next in line at short notice to fill appointment slots.
"While a small number of these missed appointments are a result of duplicate appointments, incorrect contact details or appointment letters arriving late, we know that in the vast majority of cases, it is because people have failed to notify us that they cannot attend, or do not wish to be vaccinated.
"We urge people to please let us know if you cannot attend your appointment so it can be offered to somebody else. Please call your GP surgery if you were due to receive vaccination there, or call our COVID-19 Vaccination Contact Centre on 03000 840004 if you were due to receive vaccination anywhere else.
"The lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm and Saturday to Sunday, 9am to 1pm. If you receive a text message appointment reminder, this will include details of how you can cancel your appointment by text.
"Please still attend if you have any concerns about the vaccine, so we can take the time to discuss these with you before you make a decision on whether or not to go ahead with vaccination. We are also appealing to employers across the region to be sympathetic to requests for their staff to take time off to attend vaccination appointments."
