MS urges Wrexham residents to get boosted this autumn

As the rollout of the autumn Covid-19 booster programme accelerates, Wrexham’s Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths is calling on local residents to accept their invitations and get vaccinated.

Care home residents and staff became the first group to receive the latest booster when the rollout started at the beginning of September, but more and more eligible adults in Wrexham are being invited for vaccination by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Invitations are being issued in order of vulnerability and everyone eligible is expected to be offered a booster vaccine by the end of November.

The vaccine will help support the immunity of all those who are at higher risk from Covid-19, improving their protection against severe illness, while also helping support the NHS during the winter months. 

Adults aged 50 and over will be offered a single dose of Covid-19 vaccine, as well as care home residents and staff, frontline health and social care workers and people aged 5 – 49 in a clinical risk group.  A booster jab will also be offered to people aged 5 – 49 who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression, as well as carers aged 16 – 49.

In addition to the Covid booster, an expanded flu programme will once again be offered, with 1.5 million people being eligible for a free vaccine.  Where possible, people may be able to receive their two jabs at the same appointment.

Lesley Griffiths MS said: “Vaccines have had an enormous impact over the course of the pandemic and I wish to thank the NHS workers and other organisations who will once again step up and administer the jabs in the coming days and weeks.

“The rollout is ramping up with certain GP practices in Wrexham administering booster jabs to patients and an increasing number of eligible residents are being invited to attend an appointment at the Vaccination Centre at Glyndwr University’s Catrin Finch Centre.

“It’s vitally important people get vaccinated when they get the chance.  Currently there are around 1000 members of staff within the Welsh NHS self-isolating and off work due to Covid and a significant number of GPs are also affected.

“Coronavirus has not gone away and we do not want to lose any of the gains we have made.  Getting boosted is the best way to protect yourselves and your loved ones.”