Clare Williams, Executive Director of Planning and Performance at CTM UHB, said: “As 
we move closer to achieving our aim of vaccinating our top four priority groups, this will bring an end to phase one of our vaccination programme in Cwm Taf Morgannwg.
“Phase two consists of vaccinating groups 5 to 9, while administering second doses to groups 1 to 4. From next week, groups 5 and 6, which is people who are 65 and over, and people 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions will be contacted by their GP for a vaccine appointment.
“We have started re-visiting our care homes to give second doses to residents and staff in priority group one and our mobile vaccination teams will continue this work. Alongside this, our hospital vaccination centres will be giving second doses to our frontline staff.
“Phase two will commence with pace and will continue at a large scale and with flexibility based on vaccine supply, as we aim to get all nine priority groups vaccinated by the start of May.
“This switch between phases allows us to pause (from February 16) for two weeks our four community vaccination centres in Merthyr Tydfil, Abercynon, Rhondda and Bridgend. The teams of vaccinators, staff and volunteers have all done an incredible job in vaccinating health and social care workers and those aged 70-74. Both of these groups are now nearly complete.
“It has always been our intention to bring vaccines as close to where people live as we possibly can. Therefore, during this two-week pause, we will be looking at the locations of all four of our community vaccination centres to ensure they are in the best locations for residents.
“It is our intention to open seven community vaccination centres throughout Cwm Taf Morgannwg. By working closely with our local authority partners, we have identified some potential new sites to open CVCs, and are currently looking at other available venues.
“In Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council area, we will keep Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre, but open a new venue at Aberfan Leisure Centre at the end of March.
“In Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council area, we will keep our Rhondda venue, while opening new venues at Llantrisant Leisure Centre and Cynon Valley Indoor Bowls in Mountain Ash. Our Abercynon community vaccination centre will not reopen.
“In the Bridgend County Borough Council area, we will keep our Ravens Court site and add another community vaccination centre at Maesteg Leisure Centre.
“For those who have received their first dose vaccine at one of our community vaccination centres and already have an appointment for their second dose, please be assured community vaccination centres will reopen at the start of March.”
