An 85-year-old woman from South Wales is thought to be the first care home resident to get a third dose of the Covid vaccine.
Anne Webb, who lives at Treorchy’s Ty Ross Nursing Home, said it ‘really didn’t hurt’ after receiving the jab earlier today.
The Welsh government has now started offering booster shots to a number of more at-risk groups, including over-50s, younger adults with health conditions and frontline NHS staff.
The strategy is in line with the rest of the UK, as the government seeks to stave off another wave of infections in the winter months.
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB) said it was the first in the UK to start giving booster shots to older care home residents.
Rhondda Cynon Taf local authority, where Anne’s care home is based, has had the highest Covid mortality rate during the pandemic.
In Wales more than 20% of people who died from the virus in Wales were care home residents, ONS figures show.
Ty Ross manager Gail Dean said the booster scheme made her feel ‘more confident’ about visitors coming to the home, the BBC reports.
She said: ‘Staff working in social care have had to be family and friend to the people they look after during the pandemic, hopefully we will go from strength to strength now.’
Welsh Minister for Health and Social Services Eluned Morgan said: ‘Wales’ vaccination programme has been world leading and we have been working with the NHS to deliver the autumn booster safely and efficiently.
‘I would urge all those who are eligible for a booster take up the offer when they are called for an appointment, as there is the possibility of reduced immunity from their earlier doses of the vaccine as time passes.
‘If you haven’t had the first dose of the vaccine yet, it’s not too late. I encourage anyone who has not yet taken up their offer to do so.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.