Covid in Wales: 'We haven't been offered a booster jab yet'

Wales set a target of offering all eligible adults a Covid booster by the end of the year

Dozens of people say they have not been offered a Covid booster vaccine appointment despite claims by the Welsh government all adults had been offered.

The government has said all health boards had confirmed offers of boosters had been made to all eligible adults.

Dean Anthony, 32, from Caerphilly, said: "We haven't had a letter, we haven't had an invitation, we haven't been offered anything at all."

People affected in this way are being advised to contact their health board.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said there had been "lots of different communication methods", adding some some messages could have been missed.

Plans to offer all adults a booster by the end of this year were announced as Omicron first began to spread in Wales.

• Q&A: How do I get a booster in Wales?

"With today being New Year's Eve, we thought it was weird that they've announced that everyone's been offered one but both my wife and I haven't had anything through," Mr Anthony explained.

"We thought it was unusual as we both had our letters through for our first and second dose but this time [we have] not heard anything at all."

Dean and his wife Jennifer eventually found out they were not assigned a vaccination centre for a booster

After not receiving an appointment, the couple went online to the NHS Covid booster website to book an appointment and were told there was no record of them in the system.

They were advised to call 119, the Covid Track and Trace System, who told them to contact their GP.

The GP surgery signposted them to their local Aneurin Bevan health board as it could not arrange appointments.

"[The health board] told me there had been a problem with our vaccination. They hadn't registered a vaccination site to us so that was why we hadn't received anything," Mr Anthony said.

He said he has been told to "call back next week" to book an appointment.

He said their previous two appointments, in May and August, had been "seamless" but this time it felt chaotic and a "bit of a battle".

"Everything online says don't do anything, don't call, don't chase - but if we hadn't acted we would never have had one," he added.

Louise, pictured (left) with her son's girlfriend, Amy, says she is the only one in her house who has received a booster invite

Louise Brookes, 43 from Swansea lives in a six-adult household. She is the only person who has received an invite but four others who were eligible had not yet received theirs.

"In the meantime, over Christmas we've all had Covid," she said, adding it meant they would now have to wait 28 days before being able to get a booster.

Ms Brookes said other relatives and friends had not received their invite letters either, despite being eligible.

She and her husband were told by their health board to wait for their invite.

"There are lots of other people worse off than me - we wouldn't want to book in front of other people," said Ms Brookes.

"Everyone is working really hard, we appreciate the health professionals are working over Christmas to get these vaccines done so you want to sit back and wait your turn."

She added: "It is a brilliant achievement what they've achieved already, but you can't blatantly say everyone's had their invite when they haven't."

'Enormous effort'

More than 1.5 million boosters have been given to date, with 81% of over 50s having received their dose

The Welsh government said all health boards had offered all eligible adults through a range of methods including letters, text messages, online booking and walk-in options.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales' Gareth Lewis programme, Ms Morgan said: "There's been lots of different methods of communication by different health boards, some have been texted, some have been sent a letter.

"Others have made announcements about walk-in centres - so maybe they haven't heard that message about being able to come into a walk-in centre.

"I would encourage everyone now who is eligible - and there are some who are not eligible because they haven't had enough time between the last vaccine and the booster - that they should contact their health boards to make an appointment, or those walk-in centres are now available."

Earlier, Ms Morgan thanked the public for their "outstanding" response to the booster programme.

About 80% of people aged 12 and above are currently eligible for the booster and, of those, 71% of have already received one.

More than 1.5 million boosters have been given to date, with 81% of over 50s having received their dose.

Meanwhile, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed about one in 40 people in Wales were estimated to have Covid in the week ending 23 December, equalling the previous record set in October.

On Friday, 10,393 new Covid cases and 11 new deaths with the virus were reported by Public Health Wales.

• Why do boosters work if two doses struggle?

• Booster at least 80% effective against severe Omicron

• Covid boosters paused over Christmas in Wales

Wales became the fourth UK nation to meet its target of offering a booster to all eligible adults by the new year.

In a statement, the Welsh government said "nobody will be left behind", and health boards are actively following up on anyone who has not yet been able to take up their booster offer.

The health minister has also thanked NHS Wales staff who have "worked tirelessly through such a busy time to deliver this monumental task".

"Over the Christmas period we were pleased to see an increase in people coming forward to receive their first and second doses of the vaccine," she said.

"If you have yet to take up the offer, make getting your booster a new year's resolution. Every vaccine given helps to Keep Wales Safe."