Eligible people encouraged to catch up with Covid-19, flu and MMR vaccines
20 December 2023: Updated 26 February 2024
Eligible people who need to catch up with Covid-19, flu and/or MMR vaccines are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.
Individuals who usually access their flu or MMR vaccination through their GP should contact their practice to make an appointment.
Children who missed their nasal spray flu vaccine in school are being urged to attend three catch-up sessions on January 10, 15 and 18, 2024. More details can be found here.
Covid-19, flu and MMR vaccinations are also available at Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board’s two Mass Vaccination Centres (MVC) without an appointment.
Vaccinations are being offered at Barry Hospital MVC, on Colcot Road, and Rookwood Hospital MVC, on Fairwater Road, Llandaff. Rookwood MVC will be open to walk-ins every day from 9am-6pm until Saturday, March 30, 2024. Barry MVC will be open to walk-ins every day from 9am-6pm until Sunday, March 3, but will then be open only on Saturdays and Sundays (also 9am-6pm).
For adults, the flu vaccine and the Covid-19 booster will be available at the MVCs, and for children the flu nasal spray or a gelatine-free flu vaccine will be available.
In addition to Covid-19 and flu, vaccinators will be able to administer the MMR vaccine to anyone who missed their routine appointments. It follows an outbreak of measles in Cardiff in which eight confirmed cases were identified.
The MMR vaccine is routinely offered to all children in two doses: one at 12/13 months and another at three years and four months, and parents and carers should attend these scheduled sessions with their GP when invited.
However, it is never too late to catch up, so children, teenagers or adults who have never had the MMR vaccine - or the measles vaccine on its own – are urged to speak to their GP about vaccination or attend a Mass Vaccination Centre. No appointment is needed at the MVC, and once again a gelatine-free option will be available.
If your child was vaccinated with MMR before 12 months old, such as those who have received the vaccine abroad, it may be beneficial for them to receive a further vaccination. If you have any queries around this, please contact your GP to discuss or contact the Health Board on 02921 841234.
Victoria Whitchurch, Head of Operations, Mass Immunisations and Testing, said: “The winter rollout of Covid-19 and flu vaccinations is now in full swing, and we would like to thank everyone who has attended their appointments so far. We appreciate that this time of year is busy for families across Cardiff and Vale, but getting yourself and your loved ones vaccinated will ensure that you are as well-protected against these viruses as possible.
“We’re starting walk-in appointments at our two Mass Vaccination Centres so that eligible people can attend at a date and time that suits them. This is being done alongside our GP colleagues and community pharmacies that are still offering appointments.
“Our hospitals are facing sustained levels of high pressure, so please play your part in reducing the demand on our healthcare colleagues by getting your vaccines.”
People who are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine this winter include:
- All adults aged 65 and over
- Residents and staff in care homes for older adults
- People aged six months to 64 years old in a clinical risk group as (laid out in the Immunisation Green Book)
- Frontline health and social care workers
- People aged 12 to 64 years old who are household contacts (as defined in the Green Book) of people with immunosuppression · People aged 16 to 64 who are carers (as defined in the Green Book)
- Homeless people
- Pregnant women
People who are eligible for the flu vaccine include:
- All adults aged 65 and over
- Two and three-year-old children (age on August 31)
- School children up to Year 11
- People aged six months to 64 years old in a clinical risk group
- Frontline health and social care workers
- Carers
- Pregnant women