Hywel Dda UHB encourages people to book second Pfizer vaccine appointment

0
364
MERTHYR TYDFIL, WALES - JANUARY 04: A close-up of a Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine vial containing 10 doses at Pontcae Medical Practice on January 4, 2021 in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was administered at a handful of hospitals today before being rolled out to hundreds of GP-led sites across the country this week.

Hywel Dda University Health Board is asking anyone who received the Pfizer vaccine and has not received a second vaccine appointment yet, to get in touch.

The health board aims to complete all second Pfizer vaccine doses by week commencing Monday 12 April.

To check which vaccine you received, look at the card given to you when you received your first vaccine. It will say if you received either the Pfizer BioNtech vaccine, or the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.

If you received a first vaccine dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, we politely ask that you do not contact your GP practice or health board at this time to ask about a second vaccine appointment. You will be contacted when it is your turn for a second dose – we are calling those who received a Pfizer first dose at this time.

Ros Jervis, Director of Public Health for Hywel Dda UHB, said: “Second doses are essential for longer term protection, so it’s important that everyone comes forward for their full course when called.

“Please only contact the health board at this time if you have received a first Pfizer vaccine but have not received a second vaccine appointment.

“Care home staff, health and social care staff, people aged 75 to 79 and people who were shielding, will have received the Pfizer BioNtech vaccine at one of our mass vaccination centres in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire.”

To arrange your second Pfizer vaccine dose, please contact the health board as soon as possible on 0300 303 8322. Please note phone lines do get very busy at times and there may be a wait for the call to be answered. You can also contact us by emailing your name and contact phone number to COVIDenquiries.hdd@wales.nhs.uk

Care home residents, people aged over 80 and all other priority groups who have received the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine at their GP surgery or mass vaccination centre will be contacted between 11 to 12 weeks following their first vaccine with an appointment time for their second dose of Oxford AstraZeneca.

Please be assured that this is a safe and appropriate interval between both doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and early reports from Oxford University support a 12-week interval between doses for maximum vaccine protection.

The health board has put in place transport support for anyone who may have difficulty attending their vaccination appointment. If you have no other means of travel, please mention this when you contact us to book your appointment and we will be happy to assist.


Help keep news FREE for our readers

Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle