Eluned Morgan, Minister for Health and Social Services
Today, in the week we passed the two million COVID-19 booster vaccinations administered, I am publishing our national winter respiratory vaccination strategy for 2022-2023.
This strategy focuses on how we will offer both the influenza and COVID-19 autumn booster vaccines to all those eligible, to maximise the uptake of both vaccines.
Vaccination is a vital tool to protect ourselves and others from these serious respiratory diseases. To help to do this, some people, such as those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who are particularly vulnerable if they contract influenza or coronavirus, will be offered both vaccines in the same appointment.
Our winter respiratory vaccination programme is guided by the latest clinical and scientific evidence and advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises us vaccination, including about which groups of people should receive certain vaccines. The new strategy explains how this evidence and advice has informed our approach and how it will be deployed to protect individuals, communities and our health and care services during what could be a challenging winter with services facing significant pressure.
The new strategy includes the following aims:
- Offer the COVID vaccine to all eligible individuals by the end of November and offer the flu vaccine by end of December
- Achieve 75% uptake for both vaccines
- We will continue to work to ensure no one is left behind and to maximise vaccine coverage in Wales for the protection of individuals, their families and the communities in which they live.
I want to maximise the uptake of both flu and COVID-19 vaccines for everyone who is eligible.
I encourage everyone to say yes to their flu and autumn COVID-19 booster if they are offered it and to take up their appointments for their vaccines if they are eligible this autumn. It is the best way to protect yourselves and your families and to keep Wales safe this winter.