Anyone over 18 is now being invited to turn up and have their booster in west Wales

People over the age of 18 are now being invited to attend drop-in centres in west Wales to receive their Covid booster vaccinations.

The update on the vaccination roll out in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire has been confirmed by Hywel Dda University Health Board, which manages healthcare in all three counties.

Health bosses in the region say the increased roll-out will help to meet the target of offering all eligible adults a 3rd jab by Friday.

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As well as the booster jab, first doses will be available at drop-in centres for anyone aged 12 and over (over-16s only at the drive-through at Nantyci Showground in Carmarthen), while second doses will be available at drop-in centres for anyone aged 18 and over if it has been at least eight weeks since their first dose. Those aged 12 to 17 are asked to wait for an appointment or drop-in if it has been more than 12 weeks since the first dose was received.

There are seven mass vaccination centres in total across the region, and most will make every effort to accommodate eligible drop-ins between 11am and 8pm (unless stated otherwise below).

The locations of the seven centres are outlined below:

• Aberystwyth - Thomas Parry Library, Llanbadarn Campus, Aberystwyth University, SY23 3AS (closed December 24, 25, 26 and January 1. Open until 4pm on Monday December 27).
• Carmarthen (walk-in) - Y Gamfa Wen, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, SA31 3EP (closed December 24, 25, 26, closing December 31 at 2.30pm and closed January 1).
• Carmarthen (drive through – over 16s only) - Nantyci Showground, SA33 5DR (closed December 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, and January 1).
• Haverfordwest - Pembrokeshire Archives, Prendergast, SA61 2PE (closed December 24, 25, 26 and January 1. Closes 2.30pm on December 27, 30 and 31).
• Llanelli - Unit 2a, Dafen Industrial Estate, Heol Cropin, SA14 8QW (closes at 3pm on December 31.. Closed December 24, 25, 26 and January 1).
• Tenby MVC (Tenby Leisure Centre, Marsh Road, SA70 8EJ) will be open for drop-ins between 10am and 6pm on the following days in December: 28, 29 and 30. Closed on the weekends of December 24, 25 and 26 and December 31, January 1 and January 2.
  
• Cwm Cou MVC (Ysgol Trewen, Cwm-Cou, SA38 9PE) has limited availability for drop ins between 10am and 7pm on the following days in December: Tuesday 28, 29 and 30. Monday 27 and Friday 31 availability between 10am and 2pm. Closed December 24, 25 and 26 and January 1 and 2.

A spokesman for Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “Anyone who has received a scheduled appointment for their vaccination is strongly urged to do their best to keep it, whether offered in a Mass Vaccination Centre (MVC), a GP surgery, or local community pharmacy.

“However, if you haven’t yet received an appointment, Hywel Dda University Health Board now invites anyone over the age of 18 years, plus those in a higher priority group, to drop-in to a mass vaccination centre for their vaccination.

“Please do not call your GP surgery or community pharmacy to ask about the COVID-19 vaccine. If your GP practice is participating in the booster programme they will contact you directly and offer you an appointment, please accept it if they do.

“We understand people have had difficulty in contacting us by phone or email to cancel or rearrange their appointment. In response, the health board has increased the number of call and email handlers. We will continue to support people to attend for a vaccination at a time and day which suits them but in order to ensure we are reaching everyone with their offer by December 31, re-arranged appointments will be made into the first few weeks of January.

“We ask people to do everything possible to attend the appointment they are given, this will help the programme greatly, but we hope this extra resource will help should you need it.”

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