Over 3,000 people in Meirionnydd have received their Covid-19 booster thanks to hard-working staff at a surgery in Dolgellau.

Caerffynnon Surgery has been supporting the Covid-19 booster vaccination programme for patients registered at the practice as well as in neighbouring Barmouth and Tywyn.

Surgeries in Dwyfor Meirionnydd have taken a cluster-based approach to support the booster programme. This means some patients are being invited to travel further for the booster, but this has led to a faster rollout in remote areas.

Dr Jonathan Butcher, a GP at Caerffynnon Surgery and cluster lead for Meirionnydd, praised staff for their efforts to vaccinate as many people as possible in their community.

He said: “We want to thank everyone involved in the clinics, from those getting the vaccines, the volunteers and the hard working surgery staff who have made the last few weeks so successful. Receiving your Covid vaccine is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves, our friends and family and the wider community.

“We plan to continue to run the clinics through to the new year and it’s important to ensure clinics run smoothly and those with an appointment turn up on time, not too early or late. Please be patient with everyone who is working so hard to try and help.”

Individuals from the following groups to attend for a Covid-19 booster vaccine, if a minimum of six months has passed since their second dose:

• all adults aged 65 years or over;

• frontline health and social care workers;

• all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe Covid-19

• adult carers

• adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals

To help:

• Please wait for an appointment invitation in the post and please don’t contact your surgery or Covid-19 vaccination contact centre, as they will not be able to book one for you any sooner.

• Once you receive an appointment, please make every effort to keep it.

• Don’t arrive earlier than five minutes before your appointment time.

• Ensure you follow social distancing at all times.

• Don’t turn up without an appointment as you will be turned away.