Vaccination newsletter 2nd of March 2021

Close up of a vial labelled Covid vaccine held between two fingers on a gloved hand.

Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly newsletter, 2nd of March 2021, which brings you up to date with where we are with the roll out of the Covid vaccines across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

Latest figures

Please note: Figures correct as of 2pm on Tuesday, March 2^nd, 2021. These figures are for the Swansea Bay University Health Board area, not the whole of Wales.

1^st dose: 108,579

2^nd dose: 14,681

Doses given in GP practices (first doses): 34,769

Running total (1^st and 2^nd doses): 123,260

Remember that in between newsletters you can keep up to date with the latest vaccination figures and news on the vaccine roll out across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot on our main social media feeds on Facebook and Twitter.

Go to our main health board Facebook page for the latest figures and news on the vaccination programme in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

Go to our main Twitter page for the latest vaccination figures and news on the vaccination programme in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

Latest news

Unpaid carers. We now have confirmation of how unpaid carers will get their vaccinations as part of priority group 6.

How?

There are only two ways for unpaid carers to get the vaccination:

Automatically because you are already on your GP practice's carers' register. (If you are not already on the register, DO NOT contact your GP now. Please go to point 2.)
By filling in an online form and being accepted. (Note: This form will be available on our health board website from Monday, March 8^th. Our website address is https://sbuhb.nhs.wales/ A direct link to our special website pages and the form will be published on our main health board social media feeds on Facebook and Twitter from Monday and included in next Tuesday’s newsletter. We are also hoping to have a telephone number via the carers’ centre.

When you open the form you will be asked to answer questions on the person you care for and the care you provide. You will also be asked to give your personal details. Upon completion of the form you will be told if you are eligible for prioritisation for vaccination under group 6.)

Eligibility for prioritisation as an unpaid carer in group 6 is not dependant on receipt of carer’s allowance, membership of a carers’ organisation or being known to social services.
Young carers under 16 will not be offered the vaccination. No children under 16 are being vaccinated, unless in exceptional circumstances due to severe neuro disabilities.

Need to know if you’re eligible?

Go to this page on the Welsh Government website for the full guidance on which unpaid carers will be prioritised for vaccination under group 6.

Pages giving details on eligibility and a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions will also go live on our health board website soon.

When will I be vaccinated?

Vaccinations should start on Monday, March 8th and run until April 19th. However, this is dependent on vaccine supply.

Where will unpaid carers receive their vaccinations?

Most unpaid carers will be vaccinated by their GP practice.

But if you are registered with Abertawe Medical Practice, Brunswick, Nicholl Street, University, Dyfed Road, Uplands & Mumbles and Mount surgeries, you will be called to a Mass Vaccination Centre (MVC.)

Some patients registered with Fforestfach Medical Group, Victoria Gardens and Kingsway practices may also be called to an MVC.

Vaccination of those with learning disabilities and serious mental illness as part of priority group 6. The Welsh Government has made it clear that it’s approach is inclusive, which means no one who is vulnerable in these groups is missed or left behind.

If you or a loved one are already registered with your GP practice as having a learning disability or severe mental illness, you or they will automatically be called for vaccination under group 6.

Our community mental health and learning disability teams, partners in local councils and charities and, where appropriate, specialist services such as substance misuse services and families and carers will also be asked to identify whose with learning disabilities and mental illness who should be prioritised for vaccination under group 6.

If you or a loved one live in supported accommodation, you or they will also be contacted for vaccination.

Vaccinations should start on Monday, March 8th and run until April 19th. However, this is dependent on vaccine supply.

Most of the vaccinations will be done in GP surgeries. But if you are registered with Abertawe Medical Practice, Brunswick, Nicholl Street, University, Dyfed Road, Uplands & Mumbles and Mount surgeries, you will be called to a Mass Vaccination Centre (MVC.)

Some patients registered with Fforestfach Medical Group, Victoria Gardens and Kingsway practices may also be called to an MVC.

Go to this page on the Welsh Government website for the full guidance on vaccinations for individuals with a learning disability or severe mental illness.

Housebound patients waiting for vaccination. We know there are still some housebound patients waiting for their first vaccination. GP practices are aware and will arrange appointments as soon as possible. However, to ensure there is no vaccine wastage the practice must wait until they have a round of 9 or 11 vaccines to do, depending on the size of the vial. Covid vaccine vials contain either 9 or 11 doses.

Pregnant women. The pathway for pregnant women to receive the Covid vaccination is almost ready. We hope to bring you the details in next week’s newsletter.

Covid vaccination timetable – first doses. Here’s an updated timetable for first dose vaccinations in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. (Please note all dates are estimated based on current information on vaccine supply and are subject to change if supply quantities or delivery dates change.)

Group 5, ages 69 to 65 – You will be called to a Mass Vaccination Centre between February 15^th and March 10th.

Group 6, people with underlying health conditions, unpaid carers, people with learning disabilities and severe mental illness – Most people in group 6 will be vaccinated by their GP practice. But if you are registered with Abertawe Medical Practice, Brunswick, Nicholl Street, University, Dyfed Road, Uplands & Mumbles and Mount surgeries, you will be called to a Mass Vaccination Centre (MVC.)

Some patients registered with Fforestfach Medical Group, Victoria Gardens and Kingsway practices may also be called to an MVC. Vaccinations will take place between March 8^th and April 19^th.

Group 7, ages 64 to 60 – You will be called to an MVC between March 22^nd and March 29^th.
Group 8, ages 59 to 55 – You will be called to an MVC between March 29^th and April 8^th.
Group 9, ages 54 to 50 – You will be called to an MVC between April 9^th and April 19^th.

Covid vaccination timetable – second doses. Here’s an updated timetable for second dose vaccinations in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. (Please note all dates are estimated based on current information on vaccine supply and are subject to change if supply quantities or delivery dates change.)

Pfzer-BioNTech

If you had your first dose week beginning January 18^th, your second dose should take place week beginning March 1^st or March 8^th.
First dose week beginning January 25^th, your second dose should take place week beginning March 8^th or 15^th.
First dose week beginning February 1^st, your second dose should take place week beginning March 15^th or March 22^nd.
First dose week beginning February 8^th, your second dose should take place week beginning March 22^nd.

Oxford-AstraZeneca

The second doses for those living in care homes were due to start this week.
The second doses for everyone else will be 11 weeks from the first dose, beginning on March 22^nd.

Immbulance. Sixty-six-year-old Linda Sanders became the first person to receive an injection in our new vaccination clinic on wheels on Thursday, February 25^th.

The Primark worker from Clase in Swansea boarded the Immbulance, which had a two-day trial run at the city’s Guildhall.

The Immbulance is now operational and is vaccinating people in and around these locations this week:

Wednesday, March 3^rd – Cwrt Herbert in Neath.
Thursday, March 4^th - Croeserw Community Enterprise Centre car park.
Friday, March 5^th – The library in Cwmafan.

Vaccinations on the Immbulance are by appointment only. The public are urged not to turn up unless they have been sent an invitation.

People on dialysis get Covid vaccine in record time. People on life-saving dialysis who had been living in fear since the start of the pandemic have now been vaccinated in record time.

Patients with kidney failure are extremely vulnerable to the virus yet are unable to shield because they need regular dialysis to stay alive.

Now hundreds of patients living across South West Wales have been given their first dose following a fast-moving operation coordinated by a specialist team based at Morriston Hospital.

They worked with renal staff across South West Wales to give the vaccine to patients who were attending their routine sessions in dialysis units ranging from Swansea to Aberystwyth.

Those first doses were delivered to around 400 patients within days, with a 99 per cent take-up and not a single dose wasted.

Go to this page on our website to read the full story of how patients on dialysis were vaccinated within days.

People living in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot can now go for a free Coronavirus test if they have a wider range of symptoms.

As well as the three classic signs: fever, a new continuous cough or a loss/change of taste and smell; people are now able to get a test if they have other symptoms too:

Flu-like symptoms including any or all of: myalgia (muscle ache or pain); excessive tiredness; persistent headache; runny nose or blocked nose; persistent sneezing; sore throat and/or hoarseness, shortness of breath or wheezing;
Generally feeling unwell and a history of being in contact with a known COVID-19 case
Any new or change in symptoms following a previous negative test.

If you have any of the new symptoms and want a test, ring 119 or book online: Go to this Welsh Government page for details on how to book a test online.

As these are national contacts, you may automatically be asked about the classic three symptoms.

However, simply choose either option: “you have been asked to take a test by your local council” or “you are part of a government pilot project” to book your test.

You can also ring our local number: 01639 862757 and speak to an operator who will book your test. (Local operators will be briefed about the new local testing regime.)

The change is happening to help find hidden COVID-19 cases in our communities, and drive down the numbers of onward transmissions

That’s all for this week. Many thanks for reading.

We’ll catch up again next week.