North Wales health board supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine this week “more than double” than it has been of late

The deputy chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has said the supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine being provided this week “is more than double” than it has been of late.

The vaccination process is currently focusing on priority groups 1-6, with the health board stating it on track to meet the Welsh Government milestone of offering all the top nine groups a vaccine by April 19

In recent weeks a national shortage, caused by central vaccines production capacity, saw a drop in the number of vaccines being administered across the UK.

As a result less vaccines have been administered, with just 136 doses carried out in one day on Sunday 21 February.

However, Gill Harris, Deputy Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said that a “significant increase” in supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine means there will be an acceleration of the “vaccination rollout across our network of primary care partners.”

Data released yesterday also shows that the health board is on course to reach the milestone of administering it 300,000 vaccination in the coming week.

Other figures released today, show:

• 271,037 total vaccinations have been administered in north Wales
• First dose vaccines – 231,908
• Second dose vaccines – 39,129
• Percentage of vaccines administered to individuals in Priority Group 5: (65-69): 84%
• Percentage of vaccines administered to individuals in Priority Group 6: 28%

Up until March 7th the health board had provided a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 84% of people aged 65-69 (Priority Group 5) and almost a third of people aged 16-65 with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality (Priority Group 6).

In a statement, Gill Harris said: “This week our supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine is more than double what we received last week, while our supply of the Pfizer vaccine has remained stable.

“This week we will receive a total of 67,680 vaccines (17,550 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 50,130 doses of AstraZeneca).

“The increase in supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine will enable us to better utilise our network of primary care partners to ensure that people most at risk from COVID-19 are vaccinated as quickly as possible

“The Pfizer vaccine will again be used primarily for second doses.

“Next week we expect to receive less of both vaccines.”

“This week we are continuing to provide vaccination to the following groups, with invitations made by letter, text message and phone call:

• People aged 65-69 (Priority Group 5)
• People aged 16-64 years with underlying health conditions (Priority Group 6)
• Second doses to those who have received their first vaccination up to 12 weeks ago
• Letters are also being sent to those aged 60-64 (Priority Group 7) offering them appointments later this month.

“Following recent announcements from the Joint Council for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the Welsh Government, people with learning disabilities, severe mental illness and unpaid carers are now included in Priority Group 6.

Revised national guidance from the JCVI describes unpaid carers as those who are eligible for a carer’s allowance, or those who are the “sole or primary carer of an elderly or disabled person who is at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality and therefore clinically vulnerable.

“Those not already registered as a carer with their GP practice will soon be asked to complete an online registration form if they wish to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. This form is live on our website from today (9th March 2021). Following return of the digital form to the Health Board, those individuals identified as unpaid carers will be included within Priority Group 6 and will be sent an appointment letter over the coming days.

“In order to reach out to carers via non-digital methods we are liaising with partners from the North Wales Social Care and Wellbeing Improvement Collaborative.”