A NEW mass vaccination centre has opened today, Monday, February 8, in Barry. It is the first to be open in the Vale of Glamorgan.

It follows the centres in Splott and Pentwyn in Cardiff as the third centre for the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

The centre will initially operate at a capacity of 500 vaccines per day with the capacity increasing in line with the supply of vaccines given to the health board. The first appointment has been booked for 1pm.

So far, more than 80,000 people have been given the first dose of the vaccine in the Cardiff and Vale Health Board area and they are on target to have offered the first dose of the vaccine to everyone in the first four priority groups by mid-February.

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Fiona Kinghorn, Executive Director of Public Health at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “Today marks two months to the day since the Mass Vaccination Programme began here in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, and I am delighted that we have reached another important milestone with the opening of our third Mass Vaccination Centre.

“I would like to thank every individual who has contributed to our excellent progress during the past two months, I am incredibly proud of what has so far been collectively achieved.

“We remain on course to have offered the first dose of the vaccine to everyone in JCVI Priority groups 1-4 by mid-February, and will continue to work hard to vaccinate the population of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan as quickly as possible beyond this.

“In the meantime, I would ask our communities to remain patient as we work through our priority groups. We will contact you to offer your vaccination appointment at the very earliest opportunity.”

Vale MS Jane Hutt said: “With over 75,000 vaccinations undertaken by the end of last week the opening of Holm View Immunisation Centre in Barry on Monday 8th February is very welcome news."