ARMED forces have been deployed across Wales to help with the booster vaccine programme.

Two teams of military personnel have been deployed to each of the seven health boards in Wales, as the Welsh Government aims to offer the booster jab to every adult in Wales before the end of the year.

The 98 personnel will make up 14 teams of vaccinators who will provide surge support to increase capacity.

Those deploying are a mixture of health care professionals and general duties personnel who will be working in support of NHS Wales staff and volunteers, administering vaccines and providing planning expertise.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “We are now supporting this national priority Covid-19 vaccination programme in Wales, Scotland and England.

“Our Armed Forces are supporting our world class health services to accelerate the vaccine rollout and provide essential protection for people and communities. I urge anyone eligible to take up the offer of a vaccine.”

129 Defence personnel continue to support the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust (WAST). Those deployed, who have received appropriate training, are augmenting the ambulance service with non-emergency drivers. They are attending lower priority calls to help to free up WAST resources for emergency calls where there is an immediate risk to life.

Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said: “It is critical that as many people as possible receive the vaccine in our fight against Covid-19 and I’m hugely grateful to the UK’s Armed Forces for supporting this effort in Wales as well as continuing to support the work of the Welsh Ambulance Service.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, the military has stepped up to support health services across Wales with the distribution of PPE, construction of a temporary hospital in Cardiff and assisting community testing in the South Wales valleys, demonstrating the UK Government’s commitment to meet the needs of the whole of the United Kingdom.”

Personnel on task come from units across the three services – Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Some personnel have been active on other tasks in Wales since the pandemic began including community testing and PPE delivery.