Rhaglen frechu’r gwanwyn COVID-19 2025 (WHC/2024/047)

Statws:

Gweithredu.

Categori:

Iechyd y cyhoedd.

Teitl:

Rhaglen frechu’r gwanwyn COVID-19 2025.

Dyddiad dod i ben / dyddiad adolygu:

Amherthnasol.

I’w weithredu gan:

• Prif weithredwyr byrddau / ymddiriedolaethau iechyd.
• Arweinwyr imiwneiddio byrddau / ymddiriedolaethau iechyd.
• Cydgysylltwyr imiwneiddio byrddau iechyd.
• Arweinwyr gweithredol brechu, byrddau iechyd / ymddiriedolaethau.
• Arweinwyr brechu COVID-19, byrddau iechyd / ymddiriedolaethau.
• Cyfarwyddwyr meddygol byrddau / ymddiriedolaethau iechyd.
• Cyfarwyddwyr gofal sylfaenol byrddau / ymddiriedolaethau iechyd.
• Cyfarwyddwyr gweithredol nyrsio byrddau / ymddiriedolaethau iechyd.
• Prif fferyllwyr byrddau / ymddiriedolaethau iechyd.
• Cyfarwyddwyr iechyd y cyhoedd byrddau / ymddiriedolaethau iechyd.
• Cyfarwyddwr Gweithredol Iechyd y Cyhoedd, Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru.
• Pennaeth y Rhaglen Frechu yn erbyn Clefydau Ataliadwy, Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru.
• Cyfarwyddwr Cyflawni'r Brechlyn, Gweithrediaeth GIG Cymru.
• Fferylliaeth Gymunedol Cymru.
• Cyngor ymarferwyr cyffredinol Cymru.
• Ymarferwyr cyffredinol.
• Fferyllwyr cymunedol.
   

Anfonir gan:

Dr Keith Reid, Dirprwy Brif Swyddog Meddygol (Iechyd y Cyhoedd).

Enw(au) cyswllt yng Ngrŵp Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a'r Blynyddoedd Cynnar Llywodraeth Cymru:

Gwasanaethau Diogelu Iechyd,
Adran Iechyd y Cyhoedd,
Llywodraeth Cymru,
Parc Cathays,
Caerdydd.
CF10 3NQ.
E-bost: wg.vaccinationsprogrammeteam@gov.wales

Dear colleagues,

The Welsh Government has accepted the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which has advised a spring COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to our most vulnerable citizens in 2025.

The primary aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is the prevention of severe COVID-19 disease (hospitalisation and mortality).

Eligible cohorts

The JCVI advise that a COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to:

• adults aged 75 years and over
• residents in a care home for older adults
• individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined in tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book)

This vaccination should be offered around 6 months after the last vaccine dose, although operational flexibility around the timing of the spring dose in relation to the last vaccine dose is considered appropriate (with a minimum interval of three months between doses). More information on operational flexibility will be provided in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book.

This letter is aimed at health professionals who are responsible for commissioning and delivering the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Wales. We encourage you to share this guidance with all those involved in delivering the programme in your area.

Programme start and end date

The COVID-19 spring programme will run between 1 April and 30 June 2025. There will be some limited flexibility into July, for those who are unable to receive a vaccination within the main programme window, due to illness.

Vaccine supply

The vaccine products to be used in the spring programme 2025 will be set out in the relevant Green Book chapter alongside clinical advice on their use.

Programme ambitions

Health boards are expected to continue to maximise vaccine uptake, minimise vaccine waste, retain their focus on reaching the most vulnerable, and understand and address inequity by ensuring access for all eligible people.

With this in mind, we expect:

1. all those eligible for a spring vaccination to receive an invite for vaccination
2. health boards should make every effort to maximise uptake across all cohorts ensuring:
   1. uptake levels are maintained or improved ^{[footnote 1]} for those over 75 years of age and those resident in a care home for older adults, and that every effort is made to achieve 75% uptake for these cohorts
   2. all possible interventions which could improve uptake ^{[footnote 1]} for the immunosuppressed cohort are explored and acted on, including removing any barriers to vaccination
   3. the gap is reduced between uptake rates ^{[footnote 1]} in the least and most deprived areas of the health board

When planning for improved uptake of vaccination local health boards should draw on experience of successful initiatives from across Wales that have demonstrated impact and seek to incorporate lessons learnt. We encourage the use of existing vaccination forums to facilitate the sharing of information on good practice to support this planning round.

I am very conscious that planning for this programme will be undertaken by teams who are still delivering the 2024 to 2025 winter respiratory vaccination programme. Your hard work in making these programmes a success is very much appreciated.

Yours sincerely

Dr Keith Reid
Deputy Chief Medical Officer (Public Health)

[1]. Compared to the 2024 spring programme.