PEOPLE eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination who have not already received one or both doses are being urged to take advantage of walk-in vaccination centres.

Whilst people wanting the jab can still book an appointment in advance using Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s online booking service, the health board have made accessing a vaccination even easier by operating walk-in vaccination centres across North Wales, including two in the Vale of Clwyd, based at the OpTic Centre on St Asaph Business Park and Wellington Road Community Centre in Rhyl.

The OpTic Centre walk-in is open from 9.30am to 5.15pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, whilst Wellington Community Centre is open from 9am to 5pm on Tuesday.

Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies said: “There are now a number of Covid vaccination clinics open across North Wales, where you can walk in without making an appointment and I very much welcome the fact that there are two available here in the Vale of Clwyd," said Dr Davies.

“The walk-in sessions allow people to be vaccinated at a time convenient to them and I hope that their availability will encourage more people to get the jab.

“I cannot emphasise enough the importance of getting vaccinated. Evidence shows that Covid-19 hospitalisations in Wales are down by around 80 per cent compared to the second wave, while deaths are around 90 per cent lower.

“I know some people still have uncertainties regarding the vaccination process, and the health board are encouraging anyone who does, to book an appointment online, or attend one of their walk-in clinics, where staff will take the time to discuss any concerns they have, so they can make an informed decision about whether to go ahead.”

James added:

“I am pleased that so many people across the Vale of Clwyd have chosen to have the vaccination, but we need to ensure that even more people come forward for it.

“We also need to ensure that everyone who has still only received their first jab returns for their second. Receiving both doses provides the very best protection, reducing the chances of being hospitalised with COVID-19 by more than 90 per cent.

“Such incredible progress has been made since the start of this pandemic, with the vaccination programme the leading component of this. However, we are not out of the woods yet, and It is therefore vital that even more people are vaccinated in the weeks ahead.”

• Walk in sessions are subject to availability of the vaccination and the turnout of people on any given day.

• If six weeks have passed since you had your first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, or eight weeks have passed since you had your first dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca, you can book your second dose of the same brand vaccine using the health board’s online booking service. Appointments can also be made by calling BCUHB’s COVID-19 Vaccination Contact Centre on 03000 840004, although lines can be very busy.

• The health board are also holding mobile ‘pop up’ vaccination clinics targeting areas of high footfall. These will be publicised on social media and through the local press.