Vaccines: coronavirus (Welsh Government)
A collection of guidance and policy statements published by Welsh Government on the topic of COVID-19 vaccines.
COVID-19 Vaccine Allergy Service (Welsh Medicines Information Centre)
The COVID-19 Vaccine Allergy Service is available to offer confidential guidance and advice for patients and healthcare professionals. As more of the general population is being offered their COVID-19 vaccine, this service is available to help with queries and concerns. Pharmacy professionals are on hand 7 days a week to advise, with a turnaround of 3-7 days for enquiry answering. The COVID-19 Vaccine Allergy and Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Service is a collaboration between the Welsh Medicines Information Centre and AWTTC.
Vaccination Strategy for Wales (Welsh Government and NHS Wales)
The COVID-19 strategy for Wales includes current priorities and achievements to date.
Written Statement: COVID-19 vaccine deployment in Wales (Vaughan Gething MS, Minister for Health and Social Services)
Vaughan Gething MS has published a written statement (2 December 2020), providing an overview of the plan for COVID-19 vaccinations in Wales.
COVID-19 vaccination information (Public Health Wales)
Public Health Wales has compiled a range of resources regarding COVID-19 vaccines. This includes answers to frequently asked questions about the vaccine, information on eligibility for the vaccine, information for patients receiving the vaccine, and links to a range of resources for health and social care professionals.
Welsh Government Update - AstraZeneca Vaccine (Welsh Government)
Welsh Government has released a statement (7 May 2021) outlining the implementation of new advice from JCVI and MHRA, wherein those under 40 years of age (with no clinical risk factors) who are not yet vaccinated should be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
*Public Health Link – Notification from the Chief Medical Officer for Wales* Update on COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529 (Dr Frank Atherton, Chief Medical Officer for Wales)
This Public Health Alert addresses the emerging COVID-19 B.1.1.529 variant (Omicron). It references the summary of the 26 November 2021 meeting of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) and a note on Omicron enhanced surveillance for testing laboratories; both of which are provided below:
Summary of NERVTAG meeting (26/11/2021) – Update on COVID-19 Variant B.1.1.529 (UK Health Security Agency’s Chief Medical Adviser, National Medical Director of NHS England, and Chief Nursing Officer for England)
Omicron enhanced surveillance for testing laboratories (UK Health Security Agency)
*Public Health Link - Notification from the Chief Medical Officer for Wales* Third Primary dose of Covid-19 Vaccine for Severely Immunocompromised patients (Dr Frank Atherton, Chief Medical Officer for Wales and Dr Gillian Richardson, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (Vaccines))
This Public Health Alert addresses the recent JCVI advice that some severely immunocompromised individuals who were immunosuppressed at the time of either their first or second primary vaccine dose should be offered a third primary dose.
A ‘Question and Answer’ document is also provided to support this advice and answer any frequently asked questions a patient may have about the provision of a third primary dose in patients who are immunocompromised.
[Added 10 September 2021] Advice for administration of third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine for individuals on immunosuppressive or immunomodulating therapy (Welsh Medicines Information Centre)
In support of the JCVI advice, the Welsh Medicines Information Centre has provided a list of medicines that corresponds to the JAK inhibitors and other biologic immune modulators mentioned, and suggests appropriate timing of a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
*Public Health Link - Notification from the Chief Medical Officer for Wales* COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine: myocarditis and pericarditis– revisions to the product information (Dr Frank Atherton, Chief Medical Officer for Wales and Andrew Evans, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Wales)
This Public Health Alert addresses the recent revisions to the product information for COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, and advises that healthcare professionals should be alert to the signs and symptoms of myocarditis and pericarditis in light of findings from the MHRA Commission for Human Medicines (CHM).
*Public Health Link - Notification from the Chief Medical Officer for Wales* JCVI advice to mitigate impact of B1.617.2 variant (Dr Frank Atherton, Chief Medical Officer for Wales and Dr Gillian Richardson, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (Vaccines))
This Public Health Alert addresses the recent JCVI advice on mitigation of the impact of the B1.617.2 and the associated changes to the ongoing distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
*Public Health Link - Notification from the Chief Medical Officer for Wales* Update on National incident in response to reports of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia following vaccination with the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine (Dr Frank Atherton, Chief Medical Officer for Wales and Dr Gillian Richardson, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (Vaccines))
This Public Health Alert relates to the national incident response to reports of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia following the AstraZeneca (AZ) COVID-19 vaccine.
*Public Health Link - Notification from the Chief Medical Officer for Wales* COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca and thromboembolic events with concurrent low platelets - revisions to product information (Dr Frank Atherton, Chief Medical Officer for Wales and Dr Gillian Richardson, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (Vaccines))
This notification informs healthcare professionals of revisions to the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca product information, including further clarification on specific pre-existing medical conditions where the vaccine should not be given, and those pre-existing conditions where particular caution is needed.
National Protocol for Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (Welsh Government, Public Health Wales and Welsh Medicines Information Centre)
Authorisation protocol for non-registered professionals to immunise people with the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
National Protocol for Comirnaty COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (Welsh Government, Public Health Wales and Welsh Medicines Information Centre)
Authorisation protocol for non-registered professionals to immunise people with the Comirnaty COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.
National Protocol for COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine (Welsh Government, Public Health Wales and Welsh Medicines Information Centre)
Authorisation protocol for non-registered professionals to immunise people with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
National Protocol for COVID-19 Moderna vaccine (Welsh Government, Public Health Wales and Welsh Medicines Information Centre)
Authorisation protocol for non-registered professionals to immunise people with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in primary care: Directions and immunisation scheme specification (Welsh Government)
Directions on how health boards can engage primary care contractors to administer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: Directions and immunisation scheme specification for primary care (Welsh Government)
Directions to health boards on the administration of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine: Directions and immunisation scheme specification for primary care (Welsh Government)
Directions to health boards on the administration of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 rapid guideline: vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) (NICE)
This guideline has been produced to support clinicians to diagnose and manage this newly recognised syndrome for which there is limited evidence available to inform clinical management. Identification and management of VITT is evolving quickly as the case definition becomes clearer.
MHRA guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19) – Vaccines and vaccine safety (MHRA)
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) produces guidance and information for industry, healthcare professionals and patients covering the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
A 'Vaccines and vaccine safety' document section has been created in the MHRA guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19) collection webpage; this will contain all existing and future documents regarding COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine candidates, including yellow card report summaries.
The MHRA issued a press release (7 April 2021) concluding a possible link between AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine and extremely rare, unlikely to occur blood clots. The benefits of vaccination continue to outweigh any risks but the MHRA advises careful consideration be given to people who are at higher risk of specific types of blood clots because of their medical condition.
The MHRA has concluded a positive safety profile for Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in 12- to 15-year-olds (4 June 2021). An extension to the current UK approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine that allows its use in 12- to 15-year-olds has been authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
MHRA has also published the following update summaries:
JCVI advice on COVID-19 vaccination of children and young people (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that children at increased risk of serious COVID-19 disease are offered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. This includes children aged 12 to 15 with severe neurodisabilities, Down’s syndrome, immunosuppression and multiple or severe learning disabilities. The JCVI also recommends that children and young people aged 12 to 17 who live with an immunosuppressed person should be offered the vaccine.
Priority groups for coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination: advice from the JCVI (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) has published advice for the priority groups to receive the vaccine, including care home residents, health and care staff, the elderly and the clinically extremely vulnerable.
The green book – Chapter 14a – COVID-19 - SARS-Cov-2 (Public Health England)
Provides provisional guidance subject to MHRA approval of vaccine supply. This guidance includes information on the COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer BioNTech and also Astra Zeneca. Also information on the dosage and schedule for the UK, and recommendations for the use of the vaccine.
COVID-19 Vaccines (NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service)
Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) has dedicated an area of its website to information regarding COVID-19 vaccines, including standard operating procedures for handling the vaccines, and information for healthcare professionals on their administration.
Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists – COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy (RCOG)
The RCOG have developed a range of information for healthcare professionals and pregnant women eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
Reporting suspected COVID-19 vaccine side effects, and potential product defects or counterfeit products (NHS Specialist Pharmacist Service) The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) request that all suspected side effects to COVID-19 vaccines are reported via the dedicated coronavirus Yellow Card site. The purpose of the Yellow Card Scheme is to provide early warning that the safety profile of a product requires further investigation. By reporting side effects, everyone can help provide more information on the safety of the vaccines.
Vaccination against COVID-19: FAQs for clinicians and patients (British Transplantation Society)
The British Transplantation Society have published a series of frequently asked questions on the subject of COVID-19 vaccinations in solid organ transplant recipients, patients who are listed for transplantation on the UK transplant list and living donors.
Clinician FAQs and guidance on COVID-19 vaccine for patients receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) - Version 6.0 (UK Chemotherapy Board)
This document has been produced in response to questions raised by cancer health care professionals relating to the administration of COVID-19 vaccines in patients receiving SACT.