Health

New Covid vaccine arrives first in West Wales

Published

5 years ago

April 12, 2021

THE FIRST person in the UK to receive the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19 got their jab at 8:30 in the morning of Wednesday, April 7, at West Wales General Hospital.

The recipient was Elle Taylor, aged 24. Ms Taylor is an unpaid carer from Ammanford.

Speaking after receiving the vaccine, the 24-year-old, who works at a further education college, said: “I’m very excited and very happy.

“I’m an unpaid carer for my grandmother, so it is very important to me that I get it, so I can care for her properly and safely.

“My grandmother has had her first dose and she is going for her second dose on Saturday.”

Miss Taylor said she only found out on Tuesday evening that she was to be the first in the UK to receive the jab by Moderna, an American company.

HEALTH BOARD ‘DELIGHTED’

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorised the Moderna vaccine as safe and effective in January 2021 following rigorous clinical trials.
Moderna is the third Covid-19 vaccine distributed in the UK.
Two other vaccines, the Pfizer vaccine and the Astra Zeneca vaccine, are already in use across the UK. 31 million people across the UK have received their first shot of one of those vaccines since the inoculation programme began in December last year.
Supplies arrived in Wales on Tuesday, April 6.
5,000 doses were delivered to vaccination centres in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.
The Moderna vaccine is a two-dose vaccine given at an interval of between four and twelve weeks.
Ros Jervis, Director of Public Health for Hywel Dda University Health Board, added: “We’re delighted to be able to use the Moderna vaccine for deployment across west Wales.
“We will be using this new vaccine, alongside Oxford Astra-Zeneca, to continue the immunisation’s roll out to our communities in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
“We are incredibly lucky to have a third vaccine in Wales, with a long shelf life and the ability to be easily transported, to help deliver the vaccination programme to small clinics across our rural communities.”

THE MODERNA VACCINE EXPLAINED

The Moderna vaccine does not contain the virus to produce immunity.
It cannot give you COVID-19.
The injection stimulates the body’s natural defences (immune system). It works by making the body produce its own protection (antibodies) against the virus that causes the COVID-19 infection.
The vaccine delivers the ‘instructions’ that cells in the body can use to make antibodies to fight the virus that causes COVID-19.
As with any vaccine, Moderna may not fully protect all those who receive it. Those who get it may not be fully protected until two weeks after the vaccine’s second dose.
In trials, the vaccine was 94.1% effective in preventing Covid-19 infection in patients with no prior history of the disease. It was 100% effective in preventing patients from developing the severe Covid-19 symptoms that lead to hospitalisation.
Although the Moderna vaccine is the priciest of the vaccines yet rolled out, it has an advantage over the Pfizer vaccine. It can be stored in a regular fridge for up to fourteen days after its delivery to a vaccination centre.
It contains no ingredient derived from animals.

A KEY MILESTONE

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said: “This is another key milestone in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The third vaccine for use in Wales significantly adds to our defences in the face of coronavirus. It will help to protect our most vulnerable.
“Every vaccine given to someone in Wales is a small victory against the virus, and we would encourage everyone to go for their vaccine when invited.
“If people cannot attend their appointment, we ask them to let the health board know via the contact details provided in their invitation as this vaccination slot can be offered to someone else rather than be wasted.
“Once you have been vaccinated, you should continue to follow guidance, staying two metres apart, washing your hands and wearing a face covering to protect those around you.
“I want to thank all those who have been working tirelessly to deliver the vaccine across Wales and help us meet our second milestone of offering a vaccine to all phase one priority groups. I also want to thank the 1.5 million people in Wales that have already come forward for their vaccine and done their bit in this national effort.”
Welsh Conservative deputy health spokesperson and candidate for Ceredigion and Mid and West Wales, Amanda Jenner, said: “The Conservative UK Government’s decision to go it alone has been fully vindicated with the phenomenal results of the British vaccination programme.
“The roll-out of the Moderna vaccine, administered by our outstanding NHS and volunteers, will boost our ability to protect Welsh people and restore our freedoms.”

VACCINE SUPPLIES

Starting from the middle of last year, the UK Government secured a deliberate oversupply of vaccine to ensure continuity of supply.
As part of that strategy, the Department of Health placed provisional orders – pending approval by the medicines’ regulator – of seven different vaccines in different stages of development.
The UK has ordered 40 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine, 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine, and 17 million doses from Moderna.
A further four vaccines are either in clinical trials or awaiting MHRA approval: Novavax (60 million doses, Janssen (30 million doses), Valneva (60 million doses), GlaskoSmithKline (60 million doses).
The number of Covid-19 vaccine doses on order is enough to fully inoculate the UK’s entire population twice.

BOARD STATEMENT ON VACCINATION PROGRAMME

194,057 people in our three counties have now received their first dose of the vaccine, and 47,087 people are fully vaccinated having received both doses.
We will have offered a first dose of the vaccine to all those in priority groups 5-9 by Sunday 18 April.
To ensure no one is left behind, this week the health board has launched an appeal asking people in groups 1 to 9 who have not been contacted to get in touch to arrange their first vaccine dose.
If one or more of the following applies to you and you have not received your first vaccine appointment, please contact the health board on 0300 303 8322 or by email [email protected].uk by Friday 16 April:

are aged 50 or over
are aged 16 to 64 and have underlying health conditions that put you at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality
work in a care home or in health and social care in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire
are the primary unpaid carer of an elderly or disabled adult who is at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality, or a child with severe neuro-disabilities

Please be patient if you haven’t been contacted about your vaccine yet and we politely ask that you do not contact the health board or your GP to ask about your vaccine. You will be contacted when it is your turn.

THE SECOND DOSE

Second doses are essential for longer-term protection, so it’s important that everyone comes forward for their full course when called.
When you will be contacted for your second vaccine dose depends on which vaccine you have received.
We are asking anyone who received the Pfizer vaccine and has not received a second vaccine appointment yet, to get in touch as soon as possible on 0300 303 8322. Please note our phone lines get very busy at times and you may have to wait for the call to be answered. You can also contact us by emailing your name and contact phone number to [email protected].uk
The health board aims to complete all second Pfizer vaccine doses by week commencing Monday 12 April.
To check which vaccine you received, look at the card given to you when you received your first vaccine. It will say if you received either the Pfizer BioNtech vaccine or the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
If you received a first vaccine dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, we politely ask that you do not contact your GP practice or health board at this time to ask about a second vaccine appointment. You will be contacted when it is your turn for a second dose – we are calling those who received a Pfizer first dose at this time.
Care home residents, people aged over 80 and all other priority groups who have received the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine at the GP surgery will be contacted between 11 to 12 weeks following their first vaccine with an appointment time.
Confidence is building around the effectiveness of the vaccines.

Emerging evidence is clear on the impact of the vaccine in preventing severe disease and hospitalisation. That is now playing out in admissions to our hospitals, and thankfully, numbers of deaths from coronavirus being reported.
UK and EU regulators have also been very clear about the safety of the vaccines. The benefits of vaccination far outweigh any possible risks.

All three vaccines are safe and effective.

Charity

Welsh patient voices help shape new UK-wide online kidney forum

Published

6 hours ago

February 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

KIDNEY RESEARCH UK has launched a new dedicated online forum specially created to give people living with kidney disease and the families and carers who support them a safe and supportive space to talk, learn from each other and share experiences.

Shaped with help from Welsh patients, the forum offers a dedicated community space for the more than 377,000 people in Wales thought to be living with kidney disease.

Free to use, the new forum, called Kidney Community, creates a single, safe space where people can connect with others who understand their experiences, ask questions, share practical advice and find support, no matter what stage of the kidney disease journey they are at.

Kidney Community is open to kidney patients at all stages of the disease, people with a higher risk of developing it, and anyone affected by a diagnosis in their family or friendship groups.

The forum will be continually supported by Kidney Research UK’s team, helping to ensure discussions are informed, respectful and grounded in trusted information. It has been co-developed with kidney patients and carers to ensure it reflects real needs, concerns and priorities.

Darren Daniel from Ammanford in southwest Wales helped with the forum’s development. Diagnosed with kidney disease in 2017, Darren has used social media, including TikTok, to raise awareness of kidney health and the realities of living with long-term illness. His experience of connecting with others helped inform the development of the forum.

Darren said: “When I started sharing my kidney journey online, I saw just how many people were desperate for somewhere to talk honestly about what they were going through. Helping shape this forum felt like a natural next step – making sure it’s real, accessible and driven by the questions people actually ask, not medical jargon.”

“This forum takes that sense of community and gives it a safe home, backed by Kidney Research UK. It means people don’t have to scroll endlessly or rely on misinformation. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or years into treatment, there’s power in knowing others understand your day-to-day reality, and that support is only a conversation away.”

Sandra Currie, chief executive of Kidney Research UK, said: “Many people affected by kidney disease tell us they feel unsure where to turn for support. This forum brings patients and carers together in one place, so they can feel heard as part of a community, with access to information and shared experience at every stage of kidney disease. We are providing a safe, welcoming space where every question and every story matters.”

The launch builds on Kidney Research UK’s long-standing commitment to ensuring the voices of patients and families help shape research, services and support. Existing supporters, volunteers and members of the charity’s Kidney Voices for Research network were among the first invited to join.

The forum is now live and free to access at kidneycommunity.kidneyresearchuk.org

Health

NHS Wales app gives tutor fresh start after mental health struggles

Published

2 days ago

February 8, 2026

Staff Writer

A TUTOR who struggled with depression and anxiety found “life-changing” online support through a free NHS Wales service.

Former maths teacher Iain Messenger had experienced anxiety for decades but said looming retirement and the collapse of his marriage were the final straw.

He called the NHS 111 press 2 mental health service after experiencing crippling panic attacks, low self-esteem and ‘dark thoughts’.

He was signposted to SilverCloud Wales, an online platform offering guided self-help programmes for mental health and wellbeing.

Speaking out to coincide with Time to Talk Day – the nation’s biggest mental health conversation – 58-year-old Iain said: “The sense of hopelessness dissipated almost immediately.

“I realised I wasn’t the only one – other people were dealing with the exact same problems and feelings. I no longer felt alone.”

The former teacher, who lives near Welshpool, decided in 2024 to quit the classroom and focus on private tutoring.

But handing in his notice coincided with a marital breakdown, and he began each day of his final months in work battling panic attacks.

“I was struggling with my close relationships, and basic decision-making always turned into a drama,” Iain explained.

“I felt useless, wandering about not able to focus on anything. I couldn’t even read a book or watch the TV.

“I had some pretty dark thoughts – that I was a disaster, and no use to my family. I was in a real mess.”

Iain said seeking help through 111 press 2 in June last year was a ‘huge’ and ‘humbling’ step.

“It’s a bloke thing – you put on a front and pretend you’re OK,” he explained. “And I was typical in that regard, I wouldn’t really speak to anybody.

“You feel like the only person in the world who can’t do life, but then when you phone 111 press 2 and they go through the list of questions, it’s instantly relatable. You realise you’re not the first person to be there.”

Iain was referred for counselling but was advised to try SilverCloud while he waited for an appointment.

The platform features online courses based on cognitive behavioural therapy for issues including depression, anxiety, poor sleep and stress.

Access is free to anyone in Wales aged 16 or over, without seeing a GP.

“I was sceptical at first,” Iain admitted. “I just couldn’t see how an online platform was going to work, I thought I needed someone to press the right buttons and fix me.

“But going through the programme, there were scenarios that described exactly how I was feeling. I identified with so much of what was being said.

“And I was now actively doing something to get well. Just having a plan in place meant I went almost immediately from hopeless to hopeful.”

SilverCloud Wales is managed by NHS Wales’ Online CBT Service, based at Powys Teaching Health Board.

Over 41,000 people have accessed the Wales-wide service since it piloted in Powys in 2018.

As well as programmes for adults, the platform has courses for students and young people, and for parents supporting children and teens with anxiety.

SilverCloud’s three most popular programmes – addressing anxiety and depression – are also available in Welsh.

Online CBT Service project manager Fionnuala Clayton said: “Time to Talk Day reminds us how important it is to speak up when you’re struggling – it’s often the first step to feeling better.

“But we know that isn’t always easy, and that’s where SilverCloud can help. It offers flexible, confidential support you can access straight away, without waiting for a GP appointment. We’re delighted to see the difference it’s made to Iain’s life.”

Iain added: “I’m still using the lessons I picked up through SilverCloud, and they’re becoming more embedded in my thinking.

“I’m grateful – on a daily basis – for the things I learned. It’s been lifechanging.”

Cover image:

Former maths teacher: Iain Messenger

Health

Charity urges end to detaining autistic people in mental health hospitals

Published

2 days ago

February 8, 2026

Jon Coles

Welsh campaigners say new law could free dozens from inappropriate units and save up to £14m a year

THE NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY CYMRU is urging the next Welsh Government to introduce an Autism and Learning Disability Bill to prevent autistic people being unnecessarily detained in mental health hospitals, warning the current system is both harmful and costly.

Around 140 autistic people and people with a learning disability from Wales are currently being held in mental health units, despite campaigners saying such settings are unsuitable for most.

Families and advocates report repeated concerns including abuse, overmedication, excessive restraint and solitary confinement.

The charity says many people remain detained for years rather than months, with the average stay approaching five years. Placements are often far from home, leaving relatives facing long journeys to visit loved ones and making it harder to maintain family support.

Campaigners argue that failures in existing laws and weak duties on public bodies mean families struggle to challenge decisions or secure appropriate community care.

Community care cheaper

The organisation says keeping people in hospital is also significantly more expensive than supporting them locally.

Community support can cost from around £13,000 a year for those living with friends or family, rising to about £80,000 for supported accommodation. By contrast, the average inpatient placement costs about £214,000 per person each year.

Even the most intensive community packages are estimated to be between £130,000 and £200,000 cheaper annually than hospital care.

If the number of people in hospital units were halved, the charity says Wales could save between £9 million and £14 million a year.

However, it argues those savings will not be realised without new legislation to reform how services are planned and delivered.

‘Stolen lives’

Through its Stolen Lives campaign, families have shared accounts of relatives who they believe could have remained in the community with the right support, but were instead sectioned when local services broke down.

The charity says hospital should be a last resort, not the default when care systems fail.

It is calling for a dedicated Autism and Learning Disability Act that would:

– strengthen legal rights to support
– improve coordination between services
– increase accountability when systems fail

James Radcliffe, External Affairs Manager for the charity in Wales, said: “The next Welsh government has the opportunity to end the unnecessary detention of autistic people. Currently existing laws are failing to protect autistic people.

“Families are unable to challenge services to allow them to bring their loved ones home.

“An Autism and Learning Disability Bill could end this injustice and end this human rights failure. It would strengthen the protections and rights for autistic people and people with a learning disability and it would also save the taxpayer millions.”