Local Vaccination Centre opens in Wrexham and will be open 6 days a week

Wrexham’s Member of the Senedd has praised the hardworking NHS staff in Wrexham’s Vaccination Centre as the Covid-19 vaccine rollout continues to gather pace.

Lesley Griffiths MS visited North Wales’ first Local Vaccination Centre (LVC), which opened last Tuesday (26 January) at Glyndwr University’s Catrin Finch Centre, with Mark Polin, Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Chair.

Wrexham’s LVC was open for three days last week, with over 300 people being vaccinated last Thursday (28 January).

From this week, with supplies becoming more readily available, the workforce will increase and the Centre will be open for six days.

Vaccinations are by appointment only, with invitations to attend being sent using a range of mechanisms.  Appointments at the Vaccination Centres are posted out, and a number of Wrexham resident will have received letters to attend this week.  Meanwhile, GPs are generally using telephone calls and text message to their patients.

The Centre, which is currently administering the Pfizer vaccine, is complementing the work being done by every GP surgery in the town who are continuing to contact and vaccinate patients who fall within the top 4 priority groups.

Good progress has been made with the over 80s and the focus is shifting more towards the 75-79 cohort this week.  Many from the 70-74 cohort will be undertaken at the Catrin Finch Centre.

The North Wales Health Board has bult up capacity to deliver more vaccine and the Welsh Government has made it clear if it receives more vaccine from the UK Government, it has the capability to deliver more to the population.

Lesley Griffiths MS said: “It was a pleasure to visit North Wales’ first Local Vaccination Centre at Glyndwr University and I thank Betsi Cadwaladr for arranging the visit at short notice.

“The Centre was busy, with a steady flow of people attending throughout the time I was there.

“It is important to stress people will be invited to the Local Vaccination Centre and no one should just turn up unannounced.

“I understand those waiting to hear about their vaccination will be anxious but the message from the Health Board is clear.  If you are in the top 4 priority groups, you will be invited for vaccination by mid-February.

“The rollout is a monumental task and I am extremely grateful to all the NHS staff working incredibly hard to deliver the programme as swiftly and safely as possible.”