Covid in Wales: Vaccine supply to fall as four centres temporarily close

The number of vaccines supplied to Wales is expected to fall in the next few weeks, affecting some of the country's vaccination centres.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board says it is pausing vaccinations at four centres for a fortnight. Local politicians say it is because of a fall in the supply of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.

Other vaccinations centres are expected to reduce their hours.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said the drop in supply had been planned for.

The Welsh Government said the reduction in supply would affect the whole of the UK.

It comes after Wales became the first UK nation on Wednesday to have given first doses to 20% of the population, after a slow start.

The government said it was on course to meet its mid-February target of offering a jab to the over 70s, health care workers and the clinically extremely vulnerable.

But officials are expecting fewer doses of the AstraZeneca jab - which has been mostly delivered in GP surgeries rather than vaccination centres - before deliveries return to recent levels from the beginning of March.

Health boards will determine how vaccines are delivered over the next two weeks, with mass vaccination centres changing their opening times to reflect the reduction in supply.

Health officials however, say they have sufficient stocks of Pfizer vaccine to significantly increase the number of second doses next week, as those who had a first dose in December are now due for their next injection.

Mr Drakeford told a Welsh Parliament committee: "We know that we are going to get less vaccine over the next few weeks than we have over the past few weeks."

"That was planned for and known for and is accommodated in our plans which remain to complete the vaccination of those next five priority groups by the spring.

"So, without unforeseen barriers, we are confident that we will remain on track."

He said plans remain in place to complete vaccinations of the next five priority groups by the spring.

Mr Drakeford said the Welsh NHS "will be focusing our Pfizer vaccine supply on the second vaccination of those people in the top four priority groups who have already had their first vaccine".

"We will be deploying the Astra Zeneca vaccine for first shots for people in the next five groups," he said.

"We will hear, I'm afraid, from people disappointed that the amount of supply they're getting is less than we've had over the last couple of weeks because we could use more.

"If there was more, we could use it, there's no doubt about that."

The vaccination programme will soon be targeting groups further down the priority list - with jabs due to be given to people over the age of 65 and people with underlying health conditions.

Health officials say the next two weeks' reduction in supply is planned for - allowing manufacturers to ramp up their production processes, which will lead to significant increases in vaccines from the start of March.

Wales is looking to deliver 103,000 more doses next week - 56,000 Astra-Zeneca vaccines will be mainly first doses and 46,000 Pfizer which will be to push on with second doses for those in the priority groups.

Another 108,000 doses would be given out the following week but then numbers would rise to 160,000 to 190,000 and accelerating.

Last Sunday, Cwm Taf Morgannwg was the best performing of all health boards in giving doses to its 70 to 74-year-olds, according to Public Health Wales figures.

The health board's executive director Clare Williams, said the switch to the next phase of vaccination will allow a "pause" from 16 February "for two weeks at our four community vaccination centres in Merthyr Tydfil, Abercynon, Rhondda and Bridgend".

Vaccination of health and social care workers, and those aged 70-74, is now "nearly complete," she said.

"It has always been our intention to bring vaccines as close to where people live as we possibly can. Therefore, during this two-week pause, we will be looking at the locations of all four of our community vaccination centres (CVCs) to ensure they are in the best locations for residents."

The board hopes to expand to seven CVCs, with new centres at Aberfan Leisure Centre, Llantrisant Leisure Centre and Cynon Valley Indoor Bowls in Mountain Ash, and Maesteg Leisure Centre.

Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth said: "Transparency is key in maintaining public trust. Everyone involved in the vaccine rollout has done a fantastic job in vaccinating 20% of the Welsh population, but we need to see the flow of vaccines into the four UK nations, to have confidence that we are getting our fair share."

Welsh Conservative MS Angela Burns said: "The Conservative UK Government - which is procuring the supplies - is confident that the steady stream of doses will continue, and this underlines the benefit of being in a strong United Kingdom that works for Wales."

Huw Thomas, BBC Wales correspondent

The Welsh NHS has planned for reduced supplies over the coming weeks, as have health officials in other parts of the UK.

As a result, the news that some vaccine centres will close temporarily is no surprise to the people manning them.

It also comes as Wales appears to have reached its milestone of offering a vaccine to everyone in the top four priority groups by the middle of February.

No appointments should be cancelled as a result of the lower doses reaching Wales, and it is not expected to impact the longer-term plan to offer a dose to the top nine priority groups by the spring.

From next week the vaccine statistics will also reflect the increasing numbers of second doses being administered in Wales, as those who were among the first to be vaccinated in the weeks before Christmas are now due to begin receiving their second dose.

Stocks of the Pfizer vaccine will be prioritised for second doses in the coming weeks, ensuring nobody faces a delay in receiving their full immunisation.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: "We have factored this into our plans and it will not affect people's appointments or delay when people are due to get their second dose.

"The supply of vaccines is expected to ramp up significantly from the beginning of March.

"Every dose of vaccine we receive will continue to be delivered immediately to all those who need it. Our vaccination teams continue to do an incredible job to vaccinate everyone as quickly as possible."

The UK government spokesman said: "We are confident that the steady, regular supply of doses will continue to support the vaccine rollout in the weeks ahead.

"If you get called for a vaccine, please continue go to your appointment."