Update on vaccines for under-40s and pregnant women

Welsh Government has given an update on vaccinations for under-40s following a change in advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

Those aged under 40 with no clinical risk factors who are not yet vaccinated will now be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine as a precautionary measure. The appropriate vaccine will be made available at their appointment.

Welsh Government does not envisage that this will lead to a delay to the roll-out of the vaccine programme.

Residents who have already had a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should receive a second dose of the same brand, irrespective of age, in line with JVCI advice. Medical exemptions may apply to a very small minority.

More than 1.2million people have received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Wales since January, with very few cases of the rare clotting with thrombocytopenia event.

Meanwhile, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is now offering coronavirus vaccines to women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

The latest advice from the JCVI is that pregnant women should be offered the vaccine at the same time as the rest of the population, in line with their age and clinical risk group.

They will be offered the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, although Cwm Taf Morgannwg is not yet using the Moderna vaccine. These vaccines have been given to more than 90,000 pregnant women already with no safety concerns.

Residents are advised that they don't have to make the decision alone and their midwife or doctor will be happy to discuss the benefits and possible risks of vaccination based on their personal situation.

When you get your vaccine appointment, you should let the health board know if you're pregnant to ensure you get the right vaccine.

To date, more than 1.8million people in Wales have received a first dose of vaccine and a further 800,000 have also received a second dose.

Welsh Government, Public Health Wales and NHS Wales are working with other agencies to continually monitor vaccine safety and will keep this issue under close review.

Vaccines remain the best way out of this pandemic and provide strong protection against Covid-19 – it is important that when residents are called forward, they should get their jab.

More than 120,500 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have now been given to Bridgend County Borough residents as work continues on vaccinating adults aged 40-49 who are within priority group 10.

Bridgend County Borough Council Leader Huw David

For more information about Covid-19 vaccines, visit the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board website.