Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board confirms new Covid-19 vaccination centres ahead of booster rollout

Bridgend County Borough Council can confirm that Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has opened two new vaccination centres at Glanrhyd Hospital and Maesteg Community Hospital (Neath Road) in readiness for the Covid-19 autumn booster rollout.

The temporary vaccination centre at Ravens Court has now been closed by the health board, as all Cwm Taf Morgannwg vaccination centres have been moved to existing health board buildings to allow previous centres to return to their original use.

The health board has said walk-ins will only be available at the new centres until the end of the month as the autumn booster programme will start from 1 September. From that date all vaccinations will be by appointment only.

The Covid-19 autumn booster will be available to:

• residents and staff working in care homes for older adults
• frontline health and social care workers
• all those aged 50 and over
• those aged five to 49 years in clinical risk groups including pregnant women and household contacts of people with immunosuppression
• carers aged 16 to 49

Appointment letters will be sent out to everyone eligible for an autumn booster with the plan to begin vaccinating in September.

Meanwhile the flu vaccine will once again be available to all those at risk, including adults aged 50 and over, children between the ages of two and 16, frontline health and social care staff, including those working in care homes, and people aged between six months to 49 years in a clinical risk group. However, the flu jab will not be offered alongside the booster at vaccination centres.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB's Assistant Director of planning, Julie Keegan, said: "I want to thank our local authority partners for allowing us to use our community vaccination centres. We would not have been able to deliver this huge vaccination programme without their support. It has been invaluable and appreciated.

"Moving forward our new community vaccination centres will be instrumental in delivering the autumn booster programme, which is due to start next month. They are open from Monday 15 August and will be accepting walk-ins alongside appointments."

Appointments will be automatically offered to every eligible adult within the county borough. You do not need to contact the health board or your local GP and all eligible adults will be notified by letter in due course.

It’s really important to ensure that you receive your booster. This remains vital for improving your levels of protection against what can be a very fast-moving virus. We have come a long way but it’s essential that we continue to remain one step ahead throughout the winter.

Councillor Huw David, Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council