The Chief Medical Officer for Wales has called on people with
clinical vulnerabilities to come forward for their winter
vaccinations to protect themselves and the health service.
With just over a third of all those eligible having received
their COVID-19 booster vaccination, Dr Frank Atherton said it was
vital those most at risk of winter illnesses took up the offer of
a COVID or flu vaccine when they are invited.
The most recent data from Public Health Wales shows that while
uptake has been steady amongst those aged 65 and over, those in
clinical risk groups have been slow to come forward.
Thousands of people in Wales are hospitalised with respiratory
illnesses every winter. With demand on NHS Wales remaining high,
vaccinations remain one of the best ways of helping reduce the
pressure on the NHS this winter.
The Winter Respiratory Vaccination Programme was launched on 11
September 2023 and offers free COVID-19 and flu vaccines to
people who are over 65 and younger people with clinical
vulnerabilities.
Frontline health and social care workers have also been
encouraged to come forward for a winter vaccine.
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Frank Atherton said:
“Vaccination is the safest and most effective way of protecting
those who are particularly susceptible to respiratory viruses or
at risk of being hospitalised. This is why I want to
encourage everyone who is eligible for a free COVID-19 and flu
vaccine to take up the offer. Getting vaccinated is the best
action everyone can take to protect themselves and help prevent
our health service becoming overwhelmed this winter.
“I want to thank all those who have come forward so far, and to
encourage those who haven’t come forward yet, to get protected
before the peak of the flu season, which often coincides with the
greatest pressures on our hospitals and families getting together
for the festive season.”
Health and Social Services Minister Eluned Mogan said:
“I want to thank our immunisation teams in health boards and in
Primary Care who are working so hard to deliver the Winter
Respiratory Vaccination Programme. They have already
delivered more than a million winter vaccinations in Wales this
season. But if you are eligible and you haven’t come forward yet,
now is the time to get protected.”
Dr Christopher Johnson, Consultant Epidemiologist and Head of
Public Health Wales’ Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme
explains:
“Vaccination remains our best line of defence against serious
disease. In the UK, each vaccine has gone through a rigorous
safety approval process.
“Respiratory viruses thrive in the winter, with the very young,
those with a health condition and the very old are particularly
vulnerable. As the weather gets colder, viruses like flu are more
easily spread. No-one wants to be ill over Christmas and New Year
so it really is worth getting your vaccine.
“Any side effects from the vaccinations are normally mild and
don’t last long. The chances of becoming seriously ill with flu
or COVID-19 are greatly reduced by vaccination. Vaccines are
safe, effective and save lives. I would encourage those who
are eligible to take up their offer as soon as they are invited.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Notes
Information on eligibility and where you can get a vaccine can be
found here
WRVP 23/24Flu
59.9% of people aged 65+ have received a flu vaccine
26.6% of people aged >65 at clinical risk have received a flu
vaccine
COVID-19
80% of care home residents have received a COVID-19 booster
