Covid-19 Community Vaccination Centre to open in Rhondda

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is supporting the national roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine, and in partnership with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, is establishing a Covid-19 Community Vaccination Centre at Rhondda Sports Centre, Ystrad.

The Council-owned Rhondda Sports Centre will be remodelled to safely provide life-saving vaccines to those who need them the most.

People are reminded that they must be invited to have a vaccination and have an appointment to attend. No one should visit the venue unless they already have a vaccination appointment. This is because the Covid-19 vaccine is currently being rolled out in priority order based on the level of risk faced by different groups from Covid-19.

People are also being asked not to phone or contact their GP, pharmacy or hospital to ask when they will get the vaccine, as people in the priority groups will be contacted individually and invited to have their vaccine.

The groups to be prioritised are decided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation at a UK level. This priority list is as follows:

1. residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
2. all those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers
3. all those 75 years of age and over
4. all those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
5. all those 65 years of age and over
6. all individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
7. all those 60 years of age and over
8. all those 55 years of age and over
9. all those 50 years of age and over

The Covid-19 Community Vaccination Centre at Rhondda Sports Centre will be the second such centre established by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, with Council offices at Ty Trevithick, Abercynon already having been remodelled for the vaccine roll-out and having already vaccinated thousands of individuals who work in front line health and social care, including staff from the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust.

Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, said: “I am really pleased Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has confirmed the opening of a second Covid-19 Community Vaccination Centre in Rhondda Cynon Taf at Rhondda Sports Centre.

“Throughout the Covid-19 national emergency, RCT Council has worked in partnership with colleagues in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board to slow the spread of Covid-19 infections in our communities.

“As well as supporting the establishment of Covid-19 Community Vaccination Centres at our sites, our staff are supporting the administration of booking vaccinations for those most at risk, and we will shortly be training more staff to administer the vaccine, so the vaccine can be rolled-out even faster.

“We are also in discussions with local GP clusters and primary care providers to provide additional venues if required, and plans are in place for this.

“The vaccine offers us an opportunity to change the tide against this deadly virus. However, while we continue to roll out to those groups who at most at risk from the virus, we must all continue to follow the measures put in place to protect the health of ourselves and those around us, especially continuing to social distance, wash our hands regularly, and wearing a mask were required or where there are other people.

“We are at a really critical moment in this health emergency, with significant infections still happening every day, and a continuing rise in hospital admissions, which is impacting hospital services.

“Our NHS colleagues are under considerable pressure due to Covid-19, and we are determined to support them in any way possible so they can continue to focus on treating those who need it most.

“We also need the support of the community more than ever, we understand how difficult it has been for people to live with significant restrictions on their daily lives, and I want to thank all those residents who continue to follow the restrictions put in place. The vaccine offers us hope, and we need to continue to suppress this virus to prevent additional deaths until the most vulnerable in our community are protected.”

Paul Mears, Chief executive of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, said “This is another important milestone for our COVID-19 vaccination programme, as we aim to offer the vaccines as quickly and as safely as possible.

“Securing this venue along with Abercynon, which is already up and running, is a great example of working in partnership and we thank RCT Council for their on-going support.”