Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has confirmed all COVID-19 autumn booster appointments will still go ahead on the day of the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll.

It is being held on Monday, 19 September, which, as part of the national mourning process, has been declared a bank holiday.

After careful consideration, and in line with Welsh Government advice, the Health Board has decided such is the importance of the vaccination programme, that all six of its community vaccination centres will be open on Monday.

Anyone who is booked in for a vaccine, but due to the funeral does not wish to attend or is no longer able to because of the bank holiday, will be able to change their appointment to the next available appointment on another day.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB’s assistant director of planning, Julie Keegan, runs the Health Board’s vaccination programme and said: “We’re in the middle of vaccinating the most vulnerable people in our communities, and it’s really important those people come forward for their booster.

“This is why we wanted to make sure people could still have their vaccine on the Monday, as we try to give our communities the maximum protection against COVID-19 as we head towards the winter.

“Having said that, we also understand, and respect, that some people might not want to attend on the day of the funeral, or may not be able to due to child care or changes to public transport.

“Whatever the individual reason, all they need to do is contact us to let us know, and we’ll give them the next available appointment on another day.

“I would also like to thank our vaccination teams, the vaccinators, the admin teams, pharmacists and the helpline team, who have volunteered to work the bank holiday to make sure the autumn booster programme continues.”

The six community vaccination centres, and all of the Health Board’s hospitals and sites, will pause and observe the national two minute silence on the day of the funeral.

For anyone who has a Monday appointment, but does not wish to or can no longer attend, there are two ways to contact us and arrange a new date and time. Patients can fill in our online request form and a member of the booking team will get in touch with you. You can fill in the form here: Request a new autumn booster appointment – Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (nhs.wales). You can fill in the form on behalf of a family member, just put in your contact number.

Alternatively, you can call our booking team direct. Their number is on your appointment letter. Our phone lines remain busy, and so where possible, we would recommend you fill in the form on our website.

The booking line is open on the bank holiday Monday.