Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is prioritising giving as many staff their first vaccine dose as possible

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board staff who have received their first dose of the Coronavirus vaccine will wait longer for their second dose than originally planned, as the health board is prioritising giving first doses to as many workers as possible.

In an email seen by Nub News, CVUHB Chief Executive Len Richards told staff that anyone due to receive their second vaccine dose in "the next few weeks" will have their appointment rescheduled to a later date, up to 12 weeks after their first dose.

This decision is based on the recommendation from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) that vaccinating more people with the first dose will provide the greatest public health benefits.

"This means you will still have a very good level of protection following your first dose and it means more people can benefit from the protection that a single dose of vaccine will offer," wrote Mr Richards.

"Postponing the administration of these second doses will create capacity for over 3,500 thousand more members of staff to receive their first dose in the next couple of weeks."

A doctor at Llandough Hospital, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Nub News: "Even though this means I won't be fully protected for a few more weeks, I think it's a really good idea.

"More of my colleagues will be able to have the first dose, which has been shown to give them some protection.

"It's better for most to have some protection than for a few to have complete immunity."

So far CAVUHB has offered the vaccine to staff working in higher-risk clinical areas as well as those with a greater personal level of risk, including people aged over 60 years of age, those aged 55 and over from a BAME background, as well as those who are shielding.

From 31 December 2020, the health board invites any frontline staff members aged 55 and over to book their first vaccination appointment.

To date, 5,500 members of CVUHB staff have received their initial vaccine dose, including members of the primary care team, staff from other NHS organisations such as Welsh Ambulance, and social care staff.

Mr Richards wrote that he was committed to vaccinating all staff members "as quickly as humanly possible".

He also welcomed the approval of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

"[It] will enable us to substantially increase the number of people who we can get protected against coronavirus over the coming weeks and months across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan."