PENSIONERS across the Hywel Dda Health Board region have been invited for Covid booster injections at vaccination centres more than an hour and a half away from their homes, entailing a round trip of more than 100 miles.

West Wales resident Barry Hughes was just one of the many people across the region who received a letter last Friday, October 1, informing him that his Covid booster jab was at Aberystwyth, more than 56 miles away from his home.

This is despite there being a vaccination centre closer to home.

Hywel Dda health board has apologised and advised people to attend the vaccination centre nearest to them.

Mr Hughes said his letter was sent first class from a Bristol PO Box. When he rang the number on the letter to query it he received a recorded message saying that there was too high a call volume to put through his phone call.

He had since been told that the letter was a mistake and that he can go to his nearest centre mass vaccination centre for his jab.

Hywel Dda health board apologised for any confusion the letters had caused, which were for booster appointments and first appointments for 12 to 15 year olds.

It said that further letters were being sent to those affected to apologise and correct the error.

"Having been made aware appointments have been allocated for some at a centre further than their closest centre, we would like to reassure people with an appointment letter that they can attend their nearest centre at a time convenient for them," said Bethan Lewis, interim assistant director of public health for Hywel Dda UHB.

"There is no need to contact the health board to rearrange and we apologise for any confusion or distress this may have caused."

She added that the offer was strictly for only those who have received an appointment letter from the health board.

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