Aneurin Bevan Become Second Health Board in Wales to Reach 1 Million Vaccinations

Tuesday 9th November 2021

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has today become the second Health Board in Wales to reach the incredible milestone of administering 1,000,000 vaccinations to its residents.

The Health Board’s Mass Vaccination Programme, which commenced in early December last year, has offered first, second, third and booster doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in a variety of settings.

Beginning with vaccinating frontline health and social care workers and those aged 80 and above, the programme has now offered a first dose vaccination to every one of its residents aged 12 and above, as well as to its local frontline health and social care workforce.

Contributing to the impressive one million vaccinations milestone, the autumn booster programme has already administered 107,140 booster and third doses of the Covid-19 vaccination. Over 25,000 health, social and care home staff and over 70% of the Health Board’s over 80s population have now received their booster dose since the booster programme began in September 2021.

Administering booster doses to all those aged 65 and above is also well underway, and the programme will continue to offer booster doses to all those eligible in line with the JCVI-recommended priority groups.

With a combination of Mass Vaccination Centres, GP Surgeries, Mobile Vaccination Teams and Pharmacies administering vaccinations since the programme’s rollout, the successful delivery of this ambitious Vaccination Programme is testament to the hard work and dedication of all staff, as well as the invaluable support received from the Local Authorities, Leisure Trusts, the Military, redeployed healthcare staff, volunteers, nursing students and Gwent Police.

Mererid Bowley, Deputy Director of Public Health and Head of the Mass Vaccination Programme at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said:

“I’d like to thank everyone who has played their part in helping us deliver this incredible Mass Vaccination Programme since its beginning last December. 11 months later, we have reached this extraordinary milestone of giving 1 million vaccinations and we are so proud to have achieved this.

“We’d like to thank all Aneurin Bevan University Health Board residents who have already taken up the offer of a Covid-19 vaccine. Vaccinations save lives, so if you’re aged 12 and above and have yet to take up the offer of a vaccination, please come along to protect yourselves against this virus.”

Lesley, 85, from Pontypool, was the recipient of the one millionth dose, as he attended Cwmbran Stadium for his booster vaccination with his daughter, Dawn.

Les said: "I feel really special. I'm really grateful to have now received three vaccinations, and to receive the millionth dose in this Health Board is an honour! The lady who gave me my vaccination was lovely."

Senior Nurse for Immunisation and Vaccination, Helen, was the vaccinator who gave the millionth dose to Les. Helen is an immuniser trainer as well as being an immuniser herself, and has trained over 1500 staff members since the Covid-19 Mass Vaccination Programme began last December.

She said: "I've been here right from the very beginning of this programme, so it really is an enormous pleasure to be able to give our one millionth vaccine."

Pictured Below l-r: Les receiving his vaccine, Les with his vaccinator, Helen, and Les with his daughter, Dawn.

Find more information on the Health Board's Mass Vaccination Programme.