Local health bosses are planning to roll out the coronavirus vaccine in a therapy centre in Splott and two leisure centres in Pentwyn and Barry.

The three mass vaccination centres are expected to open in the middle of December, seven days a week. Mobile vaccination teams will also visit places like care homes to deliver the vaccine.

Around 265,000 people in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan will take priority and get vaccinated first, and each will likely need two doses given 28 days apart.

Details of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s mass vaccination plan will be revealed in a report to a board meeting on Thursday, November 26.

The health board is planning to set up the mass vaccination centres in Holm View Leisure Centre in Barry, Pentwyn Leisure Centre in north Cardiff, and the Cardiff and Vale Therapy Centre in Splott.

The Splott centre will have 20 vaccine stations, while the Barry and Pentwyn centres will each have 10. The centres will likely open from 8.30am until 7.30pm, while the mobile team will work from 9am to 5pm to reach more vulnerable people, like those in care homes.

The report stated: “The long term response to the Covid-19 pandemic requires a safe and effective vaccine to be available to all who need it.

“The vaccination programme in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, as per the rest of Wales, is planned to be delivered over nine to 12 months, starting from mid-December 2020, when the first delivery of vaccines is expected.

“The delivery of a mass vaccination programme for Cardiff and the Vale will be a significant undertaking and will require substantial resources in order to achieve the level of vaccination that is needed.”

Challenges include recruiting staff, getting an IT system in place, and preventing people not turning up to appointments. The report warned ‘Did Not Attends’ could mean wasting some vaccines.

Care home residents and staff will be given the first priority, followed by people aged 80 or older and health and social care workers. Then priority will be given to people aged 75 to 79; then 70 to 74; and then 65 to 69.

Adults younger than 65 but at high or moderate risk will be vaccinated next. Priority will then be given to those aged 60 to 64; then 55 to 59; and then 50 to 54. What order the rest of the population will get the vaccine hasn’t been decided yet.

The health board is expecting the costs of the vaccine to be paid by the UK government or the Welsh Government.

The health board was approached for comment.