Powys launches mass Covid-19 vaccination programme

Powys has this morning launched a vaccination programme that will eventually be offered to every resident in the county in a bid to destroy Covid-19.

While Welshpool frontline health and care workers are readying themselves for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at a specialist facility in Newtown, the first doses have been administered at Bronllys Hospital in Brecon.

Hundreds of health and care workers from the county are booked in for vaccination today and thousands more are booked in the run up to Christmas as part of this milestone development. 

Eleri Tossell was the first person in Powys to receive the Covid-19 vaccine when the vaccination centre opened this morning.

Eleri is a District Nurse from Ystradgynlais and said: “I had the vaccine for protection, so that I can work and care for my patients safely. My husband had Covid back in April and was very poorly so I have seen first hand how serious this illness can be.”

Dr Anja Pinhorn works at Brecon hospital and also received the vaccine this morning. She explained “I’m over 50, which makes the dangers of Covid even more serious. I’m pleased to have had the vaccine this morning and it didn’t hurt at all.”

The immunisation programme uses the vaccine which has been approved for use by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency based on evidence of safety and effectiveness.

Due to the very specific requirements for temperature control and storage for this vaccine, it is being provided to the county’s frontline health and care workers in the first instance from two vaccination hubs.

Work is well under way to expand the vaccination as quickly as possible to people in care homes and people over 80 years old. Decisions on vaccine availability are based on expert guidance from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

“As soon as we are in a position to proceed with wider vaccination of members of the public we will communicate this widely throughout Powys,” said a Powys Teaching Health Board spokesperson. “Please do not contact your GP or pharmacist regarding the vaccine at this time.”

Invitations to health and care workers in the first phase of this vaccination programme have been sent to them by their employer.

Appointments are being offered in Bronllys and Newtown to start.