Mass vaccination centre to open in Caerphilly County Borough

A mass-vaccination centre will open in Caerphilly County Borough later this month.

The exact location is yet to be announced due to security issues, but Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) has confirmed a site has been located.

The only place vaccines are currently being administered in Gwent is at Cwmbran Stadium.

However, more venues are set to open as Welsh Government looks to upscale its vaccination program in line with the rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Mobile vaccination units will also be used to help distribute the vaccine to people who are unable to travel to a vaccination centre.

A spokeswoman for ABUHB told Caerphilly Observer: “As a Health Board, our intent is to vaccinate as many eligible people as quickly and as safely as possible.

“This includes using community venues to make the vaccine as accessible as possible for everyone who needs it, therefore additional mass vaccination centres will open throughout January, across the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area.

“A number of potential mass vaccination centres have been visited across Gwent and their suitability assessed against a variety of criteria.

“Mobile vaccination units will be used to help distribute the vaccine to those residents across Gwent that are unable to get to a vaccination centre.

“We have had many logistical challenges to overcome, but what remains of paramount importance is to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine as quickly as possible, but as safely as possible – for the population and staff involved.”

Hefin David, MS for Caerphilly, said: “This is welcome news and makes me hopeful for the new year. It will bring people peace of mind, seeing the vaccines being rolled out locally.

“However, we must remember that administration of the vaccine will take time. We need to be patient and continue to follow the rules, whilst the process plays out.”

Welsh Government said 40,000 doses will be available within the first two weeks – with 22,000 jabs this week.

More than 35,000 people in Wales have so far received vaccinations.

On Monday, January 4, Health Minister Vaughan Gething refused to commit to a timeframe for when the first phase of vaccinations – including all health and care staff, care home residents and clinically extremely vulnerable people – would be complete.