News

Nearly 10,000 people ‘incorrectly offered’ the spring booster vaccination in Wales

Published

4 years ago

May 21, 2022

NEARLY 10,000 people were “incorrectly identified” as eligible for spring booster vaccination in Wales, Health Minister Eluned Morgan has said.

It means that Wales has offered a vaccine to more people than the vaccines watchdog, the JCVI, initially recommended.

Eluned Morgan said that the Welsh Government would go ahead with vaccinating those who had been offered the spring booster incorrectly, despite the error.

She added that all the individuals affected are aware of the situation and we will apologise for the error. Some may have ben offered the vaccine anyway as they were in other vulnerable groups, she said.

“During the course of the spring booster campaign, a group of people have been identified incorrectly as being eligible for an additional vaccination,” Eluned Morgan said.

“This means that more people than the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) initially intended to be eligible for the booster have either received, been invited or are due to receive an invite for vaccination.

“On 16 May, health boards identified a potential discrepancy between the eligibility criteria determined by the JCVI and those presenting for vaccination. My officials became aware of this on 17 May and we have worked with the NHS Delivery Unit, health boards, Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) and Public Health Wales to investigate the issue further.”

Eluned Morgan added that the reason for the confusion was because the eligibility criteria for the immunosuppressed group are broader for the spring booster campaign than in previous campaigns.

“To ensure all individuals meeting the broader criteria are offered a spring booster it has been necessary to create a new cohort within the Welsh Immunisation System (WIS) – this is the system used by the NHS to manage and record the vaccinations offered and administered to these individuals,” she said.

“Our investigation has concluded that in creating the new broader immunosuppressed cohort in WIS, approximately 9,500 people have been incorrectly included as being eligible for a spring booster. All those who have been incorrectly identified have been included in the clinically extremely vulnerable group of people who are eligible for antiviral and antibody treatment if they get Covid-19.

“This error can be attributed to differences in the criteria for vaccination and treatment. It is important to note that all these individuals are at high-risk of developing severe illness if they get Covid-19 and some will already have been eligible for a spring booster because they meet other eligibility criteria, for example they may be over 75 or resident in a care home for older people.

“Having carefully considered the options available and the clinical and ethical advice I have received, I have decided to honour the offer of an additional vaccination to all those who have been incorrectly identified as eligible for a spring booster vaccination.

“In doing so I want to be clear that this does not represent a decision to extend our programme beyond the eligibility criteria advised by the JCVI.”

Eluned Morgan added that they had sufficient supply of vaccine in Wales to provide additional appointments and booster vaccines and did not expect this decision to have any impact on eligibility for vaccination in the autumn.

“The group of individuals affected are among those at higher risk of severe illness if they get Covid-19 and are therefore likely to benefit from a booster vaccination,” she said.

“Of course, like any treatment, vaccination can carry a small risk of adverse events, however side effects are usually mild and self-limiting.

“In deciding to honour the offer, I have carefully considered the benefits and risks and the potential confusion and anxiety which would be caused by withdrawing the offer at this stage.

“Taking up an offer of vaccination is a choice, and those people in this group who have not yet been vaccinated will have a choice about whether to accept or decline the vaccine, supported by advice from clinicians in our vaccination centres.

“We will make sure all individuals affected are aware of the situation and we will apologise for the error. They will be assured about the benefits of receiving an additional vaccination if they have already received it and additional advice, to support their decision making, if they have not yet received it.

“A lessons learned exercise has also been started to ensure any learning from this incident can be fed back into the planning and management of future phases of, what continues to be, our excellent vaccination programme.”

Crime

Milford Haven woman spared jail despite string of shop thefts

Published

1 minute ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Repeat offender stole from Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and petrol stations in wave of offences

A MILFORD HAVEN woman who admitted a series of shop thefts committed over a matter of weeks has been handed a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.

Marion Picton, aged 46, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 18) and pleaded guilty to eight theft offences and a drugs-related offence.

The court heard that Picton carried out a string of thefts at stores across Milford Haven between April and June this year.

Among the offences, Picton admitted stealing meat from Food Warehouse on Apr 23, food worth £60 from Victoria Filling Station on May 29, groceries from Home Bargains on Jun 7 and Jun 8, food from Victoria Filling Station on Jun 7 and Jun 9, groceries and non-food items worth £51.09 from Tesco on Jun 16, and food worth £32.50 from Food Warehouse on the same day.

She also admitted failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after testing positive for Class A drugs, including cocaine and opiates.

Magistrates were told the offences represented persistent repeat offending and had been committed while Picton was already subject to a court order.

The bench imposed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

As part of the order, Picton must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity days under the supervision of the Probation Service.

The court ordered her to pay compensation to several of the businesses affected, including Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and Victoria Filling Station.

In sentencing, magistrates said the offences were serious enough to justify immediate custody but suspended the sentence because there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Picton appeared motivated to address her addiction issues.

Picton was warned that any further offending during the 18-month suspension period could see the prison sentence activated.

Community

Bongo Clive brings rhythm and smiles to VC Gallery celebration

Published

18 minutes ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

LEARNING DISABILITY WEEK MARKED WITH MUSIC, LAUGHTER AND INCLUSION IN PEMBROKE DOCK

THE VC GALLERY in Pembroke Dock was filled with music, laughter and energy as visitors came together to celebrate Learning Disability Week.

The event saw popular entertainer Bongo Clive lead a lively session of singing, drumming and participation, with those attending joining in throughout the day.

The gallery said the session had created a joyful atmosphere, with music helping to bring people together and celebrate inclusion, creativity and wellbeing.

A spokesperson for The VC Gallery said: “The smiles said it all. A huge thank you to Bongo Clive for bringing your incredible energy, enthusiasm and positivity to The VC today. You certainly had everyone moving to the beat.”

Learning Disability Week celebrates inclusion and the abilities, creativity and individuality of people with learning disabilities.

The Pembroke Dock event highlighted the role of community spaces such as The VC Gallery in supporting wellbeing, friendship and confidence through shared creative activities.

Finance

Families urged to claim childcare top-up ahead of summer holidays

Published

58 minutes ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A RECORD number of families are using Tax-Free Childcare to cut the cost of childcare, HM Revenue and Customs has said.

The government paid almost £600m in top-up payments through the scheme in 2025-26, with 868,095 families now benefiting.

Tax-Free Childcare allows working parents to receive government support towards approved childcare for children aged 11 and under, or up to 16 if the child is disabled.

For every £8 paid into an online childcare account, the government adds £2. Parents can receive up to £500 every three months for each child, or £1,000 if the child is disabled.

This means families can save up to £2,000 a year per child, or £4,000 for a disabled child.

HMRC is encouraging parents to check whether they are eligible before the summer holidays, when childcare costs often rise.

HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, Myrtle Lloyd said: “I’m so pleased these figures show more families than ever are using Tax-Free Childcare to save on their bills.

“£2,000 is not a small amount and it can make a real difference – especially with the childcare void of the summer holidays approaching.

“If you haven’t signed up yet, don’t miss out, go to GOV.UK to do it today.”

The scheme can be used to pay for approved childcare including childminders, before and after-school clubs, and holiday activity clubs. It can also help cover specialist equipment needed by a childcare provider for a disabled child.

Families may be eligible if they have a child aged 11 or under, or a disabled child aged up to 16, and if both parents — or a single parent — earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage.

Each parent must earn no more than £100,000 a year, and families cannot receive Tax-Free Childcare if they are also receiving Universal Credit or childcare vouchers.