Ready for a journey back in time?

Prepare to cross the ramparts in Neath Town Centre for a historic adventure, complete with a Medieval Re-enactment.

As we know, Neath takes its Welsh name, “Castell-nedd”, from the castle so why not enjoy a medieval day in the town itself, complete with a puppet show, musicians and live entertainment, storytelling, combat displays and folk dancing.

It’s free to attend, but numbers will be restricted at the rear of the Castle. Once at capacity, the team will operate a ‘one in one out’ basis.

The event takes place on Saturday 5th March between 11am and 4pm.

Neath Port Talbot Council

When I attended Resolven School, the teachers always told me, “you have  your head in the clouds again” Mike Davies

Mike (left) outside school with twin brother Pat

Covid Vaccine Newsletter from Swansea Bay University Health Board

Date: February 4, 2022

Edition number: 34

Introduction:

We have given more than 800,000 doses and continue to vaccinate seven days a week.

Full details of where you can get the dose you need are below, along with information on other developments.

Latest news

Statement from our Executive Director of Public Health, Keith Reid, following an issue at the Bay Mass Vaccination Centre last weekend.

“I wish to apologise to those young people who were turned away from the vaccination centre at the weekend after responding to an invitation for a second dose.

“This shouldn’t have happened and I am sorry for the upset and upheaval this will have caused you and your families. I also recognise that you now have to attend again to get the vaccination and I hope that your experience on your recent visit has not put you off getting a second dose of vaccine.

“I have asked for an investigation to establish why this occurred so we can prevent it happening again.

“We understand that at least 30 young people were turned away in error over the Saturday and Sunday and we are really sorry about this. The investigation will look in detail at why this happened and the exact numbers who were affected. But at this stage it does not appear that the invitations were issued too early.”

Vaccination for those with allergies

If you have an allergy or allergies, we understand you will need good quality information on how your body might react to vaccination before deciding to go ahead.

If you do have questions or concerns you can speak to one of our clinicians by contacting our booking line on 01792 200492 or 01639 862323 before attending for vaccination.

After speaking to you, the clinical lead may refer you to the allergy clinic where there is the potential option of having the vaccine in a specialised clinic if deemed appropriate.

We have also pulled together some vaccination facts that may help:

.     The Covid vaccines are safe for those with allergies (including anaphylaxis) to wasp, bee or other insect stings and allergies to any food or drink.

.     The current vaccines do not contain any traces of nuts, gluten, egg, or soy.

.     The current vaccines do not contain latex and are therefore suitable for those with an allergy to latex.

.     All UK approved Covid vaccines do not contain penicillin or any other antibiotics. If you are allergic to penicillin or another antibiotic, you can still receive the vaccines.

.     All immunisers are trained and will assess suitability for vaccination when they go through the eligibility questions prior to vaccination. If there is any concern they will refer to our allergy service for advice.

.     If vaccination goes ahead the immuniser might request you wait for longer post vaccination – up to 30 minutes.

Getting the vaccine

You can get whatever dose you need at drop-in sessions or by booking online.

In addition, we continue to invite those who become eligible.

Drop-in sessions are available at the Bay MVC, our containers (local vaccination centres) at the Guildhall in Swansea, Pontardawe Leisure Centre and in a number of community pharmacies.

From Wednesday, February 16^th, we will also have a container outside Croeserw Community Hub.

Please go to our website for more details on vaccination sessions and the online booking link.

Important information:

.     Anyone 18 or over or under 18 and in an at-risk category who has had a positive Covid test result must wait until 28 days have passed following the positive result before having a vaccination.

.     Anyone aged 12 to 17 who is not at risk and has had a positive Covid test result must wait until 12 weeks have passed following the positive result before having a vaccination.

.     Please note, the vaccination appointment system generates appointments based on the date of the previous dose and is not able to take a positive Covid test result into account. So you may get an invitation to attend before the 28 day or 12-week waiting period is up. Please only attend once the appropriate period has passed post the positive test result.

.     There does not need to be any gap between a HPV vaccine and Covid vaccine, no matter which comes first.

.     There must be a gap of 13 weeks or more between a 2nd or 3rd primary dose and a booster.

Trial for Covid treatment

Have you just tested positive for Covid-19? Would you like to join a new UK-wide trial for effective early treatments?

This trial is available for people who are at wider risk of serious illness from Covid-19 either because:

•        They are over the age of 50, or 

•        They are aged 18 to 49 with underlying health conditions. (Many will already qualify for free annual flu jabs.)

To take part people need to fall into one of the at-risk groups, have tested positive for Covid-19 by either a PCR or LFT test, and have symptoms.

The PANORAMIC trial involves a course of oral tablets. These tablets are already used to treat some people who are ill enough with Covid-19 to be in hospital.

The trial is now looking at how effective the treatment is for people who are still at home who test positive for Covid-19, and who have symptoms.

It is a UK-wide study and anyone who is in the at-risk categories can apply to take part, whether they have been vaccinated or not.  More details, including a link to apply online, are available on the PANORAMIC website www.panoramictrial.org  Or, ring 08081 560017 (calls are free.)

Once accepted onto the trial, the tablets are posted to you straight away as they should be taken within five days. You will be asked to answer follow up questions online or by telephone, but no face-to-face visits are needed.

Afghan interpreter’s move to Swansea translates into new NHS career

Having flown out of Afghanistan, fearing for his life as the Taliban stormed Kabul, Mohamed Ferooz Noori is now helping save lives by working with Swansea Bay’s vaccination programme.

The father of two was relocated to the UK following the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan last August.

He had been working as a translator alongside the British military, and when he arrived in the UK was originally sent to Cardiff before moving to Swansea. He now works as a call handler in Bay Mass Vaccination Centre.

Go to this page on our website to read the full story.

Vaccination team reflects on happy relationship with wedding venue

Swansea Bay’s vaccination team has undergone an amicable parting of the ways with The Orangery at Margam.

After delivering more than 150,000 Covid vaccinations, over the course of the past year, at the picturesque wedding venue in the grounds of Margam Park, the team is set to move to a new venue in Aberafan Shopping Centre.

The change of venue will allow The Orangery to revert to its former use as a sought-after location for happy couples to celebrate tying the knot.

Go to this page to read more about the closure of our vaccination centre in Margam.

Walking group uses great outdoors to help tackle long Covid

People suffering with long Covid symptoms are benefiting from getting out in the great outdoors as part of their ongoing recovery.

A new walking group sees those taking part exercising at their own pace as they are accompanied along the route by a GP and a physiotherapy assistant practitioner.

Patients who have been referred to the Long Covid Rehabilitation Service, which runs from the Bay Field Hospital, are invited to take part in the weekly walks as an extension of the support available to them.

Go to this page to read more about the long Covid walking group.

Latest Covid vaccination figures

Please note: Figures correct as of 1pm on Friday, February 4th. These figures are for the Swansea Bay University Health Board area, not the whole of Wales.

1^st dose: 303,954

2^nd dose: 282,985

3^rd dose (for the immunosuppressed): 7,106

Booster dose: 214,418

Running total (1, 2, 3 and booster doses): 808,463

That’s all for this week. Many thanks for reading.

Date: January 20, 2022

Edition number: 33

Introduction:

Cases of the Omicron variant are falling as are the number of people being admitted to hospital with Covid.

This good news has led the Welsh Government to begin the process of relaxing restrictions from level 2 down to level 0 by the end of January.

There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. It’s also too early to take our eye off the ball because infections in our communities remain at very high rates, even if they are coming down.

Health and social care services remain under serious pressure and, if we’ve learned anything during this pandemic, it’s that things can and do change very quickly.

By continuing to take up the offer of the vaccine alongside other protective measures like wearing face masks, we can have some influence over what happens next.

Data proves that vaccinations drastically reduce the risk of serious illness and hospitalisation with Covid.

1^st, 2^nd and booster doses are now widely available with no appointment needed or via a self-bookable appointment across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

There has never been a better opportunity to have your first vaccination or to get that missing dose.

We’re also about to start vaccinating those children aged 5 to 11 who are at increased risk from Covid due to a health condition or who live with someone whose immune system doesn’t work properly.

Details of all vaccination sessions can be found in the latest news section below.

Latest news

Vaccination of 5 to 11 year olds with underlying health conditions and those aged 5 to 11 who live with people who are immunosuppressed

Last month the independent group that advises the UK governments on vaccination, the JCVI, recommended that children aged 5 to 11 who are in a clinical risk group or who live with someone whose immune system doesn’t work properly (immunosuppressed) should be vaccinated.

.     How will they be called for vaccination?

We will shortly send out appointment letters to the children who are classed as clinically at risk as defined in the Green Book, which has all the latest information on vaccination in the UK.

These letters will be followed up by a text message.

Those at risk are children with chronic respiratory disease, including poorly-controlled asthma, chronic heart, kidney and liver disease, disease of the digestive system, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, children with learning disabilities, diabetes and whose immune systems don’t work properly.

Go to the Green Book for the full list of clinical risk groups under table 4.

Those children who live with someone who is immunosuppressed will be identified via an online form, which will be rolled out shortly for parents and carers to fill in. We’ll post more details on our social media channels as soon as we have them.

.     Where will 5 to 11 year olds be vaccinated?

For the comfort of the children we will be holding clinics in Singleton Hospital’s children’s outpatient department starting on Saturday, January 29^th.

.     What vaccine will they receive?

They will receive a smaller than normal dose of the Pfizer (Comirnaty) vaccine. It’s about a third of the adult dose.

Most children will receive two doses, with 8 weeks in between.

A small number of children will need 3 doses.

.     What about vaccine safety and side effects?

Trials and real-world data show it is safe for 5 to 11 year olds and offers protection against Covid. Minor side effects such as a sore arm have been reported. Some children may also feel unwell after the vaccination and  have a fever and flu-like symptoms. This is just the normal response of their immune system and should pass quickly.

Extremely rare reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) have been reported in young people following vaccination with mRNA Covid  vaccines. In the UK, the reporting rate for under 18s is 11 per 1 million doses.

In the US where over 300,000 first doses were given to 5 to 11 year olds, there were no reports of myocarditis noted (data to 26 November 2021).

.     What about other 5 to 11 year olds?

The JCVI will issue advice in due course.

How to get your 1^st, 2^nd or booster dose:

.     BOOK AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE for the Bay Mass Vaccination Centre, The Princess Royal Theatre and our containers (local vaccination centres) outside Pontardawe Leisure Centre and Swansea Guildhall, for this week and next week. Vaccinating ages 12 and over. Please note there is limited availability of appointments at the theatre.

Go to this page to book a Covid vaccination online.

.     DROP IN at the Bay Mass Vaccination Centre, near Amazon, SA1 8QB,  any time between 9am and 8pm, 7 days a week, age 12 and over.

Go to this page for directions and details of free bus services to the Bay MVC from Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot.

.     DROP IN to our containers (local vaccination centres) outside Pontardawe Leisure Centre and Swansea Guildhall up to and including Friday, January 28th, between 9am and 3.30pm, age 12 and up. Closed Saturdays and Sundays.

.     DROP IN to one of 15 community pharmacies. FOR AGES 18 AND OVER.

All pharmacies are using Pfizer – except Vale of Neath which has Moderna.

This drop-in system replaces the previous community pharmacy selection form which is no longer available.

List of pharmacies providing drop-in Covid vaccinations, days and times:

Newbury Pharmacy, 35-37 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea, SA3 4BD, Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm.

Vale of Neath Pharmacy, Vale of Neath, Chain Road, Glynneath, Neath, SA11 5HP, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Penclawdd M Rees, Sea View, Penclawdd, Swansea, SA4 3YF, Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 12pm and Sunday 11am to 1pm.

Well – Urban Village, Unit 4, Urban Village, 215 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW, Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm.

Well – St Helens, 165 St Helens Road, Swansea, SA1 4DQ, Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm.

Well – Beacon Centre for Health, The Beacon Centre for Health, SA1 8QY, Monday to Wednesday, 10am to 4pm.

Well – Gendros (Ravenhill), 118 Ravenhill Road, Ravenhill, Gendros, Swansea, SA5 5AA, Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm.

Well – Clase, 94 Rheidol Avenue, Clase, Swansea, SA6 7JS, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10am to 4pm.

Well – Morriston Woodfield, 103 Woodfield Street, Morriston, Swansea, SA6 8AS, Monday and Tuesday, 10am to 4pm.

Well – West Cross Alderwood Rd, Well – West Cross, 8 Alderwood Road, West Cross, Swansea, SA3 5JD, Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm.

Well – Gorseinon, 2 Alexandra Road, Gorseinon, Swansea, SA4 4NW, Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm.

Well – Sketty, 5 Dillwyn Road, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 9AQ, Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm.

Well – Neath, 130 London Road, Neath, SA11 1HF, Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm.

Well – Skewen, 37 New Road, Skewen, Neath, SA10 6UT, Monday to Wednesday, 10am to 4pm.

Well – Cwmllynfell, 56 Gwilym Road, Cwmllynfell, West Glamorgan, SA9 2GN, Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm.

Harbourside Health Centre booster clinic

Harbourside Health Centre is running a pre-bookable booster clinic for patients on Sunday, January 23rd.

Patients registered at the surgery can pre-book an appointment for their booster vaccination between 9am and 4.30pm.

Please only attend if you received your second Covid-19 vaccination more than 12 weeks ago and if you haven’t tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 28 days.

To book an appointment, please call 01792 481456 or 01792 702700.

Go to this page on our website for all the latest Covid vaccination sessions and information.

Latest Covid vaccination figures

Please note: Figures correct as of 1.30pm on Wednesday, January 19th. These figures are for the Swansea Bay University Health Board area, not the whole of Wales.

1^st dose: 301,656

2^nd dose: 279,851

3^rd dose (for the immunosuppressed): 6,878

Booster dose: 207,905

Running total (1, 2, 3 and booster doses): 796,290.

That’s all for this week. Many thanks for reading.