Sam Rowlands MS for North Wales is delighted with the region’s record-breaking flu vaccination figures.
Mr Rowlands, a keen supporter of this annual jab, was commenting after it was revealed that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was one of the top-performing areas in Wales.
He said:
I am delighted to see that more people than ever before in North Wales have taken up the offer of a flu vaccine this winter. It has been a tremendous effort and I would like to thank everyone involved.
As we slowly recover from the pandemic, more than ever, people are very aware of the dangers of respiratory viral infection and vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others around you against flu.
Flu is bad enough on its own but, for anyone who is unfortunate to catch both flu and Covid, the consequences could be severe indeed. The vaccine is still available and I would encourage those at high risk to make an appointment with their GP or community pharmacy and get themselves protected before it is too late.
A total of more than 316,000 flu vaccines have been administered by GP practices, community pharmacists, district and school nurses since September, with more over-65s than ever receiving their jab.
Around 132,000 or almost 80% of older people took up the offer, helping to make Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board one of the top-performing areas in Wales.
Executive director of public health Teresa Owen thanked members of the public for coming forward for their vaccination, and praised all those involved in the delivery of the programme.
While we have not seen a high prevalence of flu this winter, there is still potential for increases in the number of flu cases during the spring and early summer. We would urge anyone from the priority groups who has not had their free flu vaccine to come forward.
Everyone aged over 50, health and care workers, people with a long-term health condition, pregnant women and children aged between 2 and 18 are all eligible for free flu vaccination.
Sam Rowlands AS yn croesawu’r newyddion bod mwy o bobl nag erioed wedi cael brechiad rhag y ffliw yn y Gogledd y gaeaf hwn
Mae Sam Rowlands, yr AS dros y Gogledd, yn falch iawn o’r ffigurau brechu rhag y ffliw uchaf erioed yn y rhanbarth.
Roedd Mr Rowlands, sy’n gefnogwr brwd iawn i’r brechlyn blynyddol hwn, yn rhoi ei sylwadau ar ôl y cyhoeddiad mai Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr oedd un o’r ardaloedd sy’n perfformio orau yng Nghymru.
Meddai:
Rwy’n falch iawn o weld bod mwy o bobl nag erioed yn y Gogledd wedi derbyn y cynnig am frechiad rhag y ffliw y gaeaf yma. Mae wedi bod yn ymdrech wych a hoffwn ddiolch i bawb a gyfrannodd.
Wrth i ni ddod dros y pandemig yn araf, mae pobl yn fwy ymwybodol nag erioed o beryglon haint firaol resbiradol a brechiad yw’r ffordd orau o ddiogelu’ch hun ac eraill o’ch cwmpas rhag y ffliw.
Mae’r ffliw yn ddigon drwg ar ei ben ei hun, ond i bwy bynnag sy’n ddigon anlwcus i ddal y ffliw a Covid, gall y canlyniadau fod yn ddifrifol iawn. Mae’r brechiad ar gael o hyd a byddwn yn annog unrhyw un sydd mewn perygl mawr i wneud apwyntiad gyda’u meddyg teulu neu fferyllfa gymunedol a diogelu eu hunain cyn ei bod hi’n rhy hwyr.
Mae mwy na 316,000 o frechiadau ffliw wedi’u gweinyddu gan feddygfeydd teulu, fferyllfeydd cymunedol, nyrsys ardal ac ysgol ers mis Medi, gyda mwy o bobl 65 a hŷn nag erioed yn derbyn eu brechiad rhag y ffliw.
Manteisiodd oddeutu 132,000 neu bron i 80% o bobl hŷn ar y cynnig, gan helpu i wneud Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr yn un o’r ardaloedd sy’n perfformio orau yng Nghymru.
Diolchodd y cyfarwyddwr gweithredol iechyd cyhoeddus, Teresa Owen, i aelodau’r cyhoedd am ddod ymlaen i gael eu brechiad, a chanmolodd y rhai a oedd wedi cyfrannu at ddarparu’r rhaglen.
Er nad ydym wedi gweld llawer o’r ffliw yn ystod y gaeaf eleni, mae potensial ar gyfer cynnydd yn nifer yr achosion o ffliw yn ystod y gwanwyn a dechrau’r haf. Byddem yn annog unrhyw un o’r grwpiau blaenoriaeth nad ydyn nhw wedi cael eu brechu rhag y ffliw i ddod ymlaen.
Mae pawb sy’n 50 oed a hŷn, gweithwyr iechyd a gofal, pobl gyda chyflwr iechyd hirdymor, menywod beichiog a phlant rhwng 2 ac 18 oed i gyd yn gymwys am frechiad rhag y ffliw am ddim.
