Three Covid vaccination clinics have taken place ay Western Vale Family Practice since last Friday, and another three are scheduled to start tomorrow [Friday 22 January].

The Cowbridge GP surgery was able to vaccinate 99 people during a clinic on Friday 15 January, and two clinics on Monday 18 January.

Patients are booked in for vaccinations this Friday and staff at the surgery are arranging appointments for on Monday 25 January.

Practice manager Rhian Floyd told Nub News that another delivery of 200 vaccines arrived yesterday and that the clinics had run smoothly so far.

"Like any new process there's been some problems at the beginning, but we've had lots of lovely comments from patients, lots of support, and people want to come and volunteer," said Ms Floyd.

"It has gone well so far. We have to take into consideration social distancing measures and access arrangements for those who aren't as mobile.

"Some of our patients are shielding, and don't want to come to the practice if they are offered the vaccine.

"A mobile vaccination team will come to them in that case, but we don't have the time frame for that yet, so we're still offering it.

"Clinics are booked for early next week, but we don't know what our supply is after that week yet," she said.

Ms Floyd said that the short notice about the quantity of vaccines due to be delivered made it more difficult to plan ahead.

"We've got no idea of the flow, it's really hard to plan ahead," she said.

"It's impacted by national issues, for example one batch didn't pass quality control."

Staff at Western Vale Family Practice who volunteered to administer the vaccines have had their immunisations at a mass vaccination centre.

Since completing three vaccination clinics so far, the Western Vale Family Practice has been able to improve upon the system.

"We've changed the process slightly each time as we've learnt what works and what doesn't," said Ms Floyd.

"We had to use a completely different computer system to record the information, so we've needed to train staff to use it. That's been an added pressure.

"We have to enter the details from our clinical system into the Welsh immunisation system, which all practices and mass vaccination sites can access.

"We've started entering this information in advance, to help speed up the process.

"But most people are quite happy to sit down, get their arm out and get the vaccine as soon as possible," she said.

If you are 80+ and a registered patient with Western Vale Family Practice, or know someone who is, please expect a telephone call from them in the next couple of weeks to book your vaccination appointment.

The surgery asks that you do not contact it to arrange your vaccine, as they will contact you.