4. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:25 pm on 12 January 2021.

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Photo of Andrew RT Davies Andrew RT Davies Conservative 3:25, 12 January 2021

Thank you, Minister, for your statement this afternoon. If I could place on record my sincere thanks to all involved with the vaccination campaign, because the intensity of the effort must have been huge, and will continue to be huge and demanding as we go forward.

Could I ask a series of questions, please, Minister, in relation to the plan that you put forward yesterday and given the statement on today? It is well documented that, regrettably, here in Wales we are behind other parts of the United Kingdom. How will the plan enable us to catch up and overtake the other parts of the United Kingdom in the roll-out of the vaccine, and what lessons have we learnt from the start of the campaign that need to be ironed out? We heard yesterday that two fifths of 80-year-olds in England have been vaccinated. Can you update us today how many over-80s have been vaccinated here in Wales? Because, certainly in my mailbox, I'm getting lots of constituents of that particular age bracket addressing their concerns about not being contacted.

Yesterday, only 5,121 people were vaccinated here in Wales. How will this plan enable the roll-out of the vaccine to speed up the numbers beyond that 5,121 that's being done on a daily basis? And can you confirm if the Welsh immunisation service is now up and running? Training for vaccinators is also critically important and, as we go forward, it is going to be vital that we can bring vaccinators on stream to help in the national effort. Can you confirm what measures you have taken to facilitate the speeding up of training for vaccinators and, indeed, the ability for retired medical professionals to come back into service to help in the national effort?

You refer to the 'second phase' in your statement. I'm assuming that means the second round of vaccines, but I'd be grateful to understand exactly what you mean by the 'second phase'. But I'm taking it to mean the second round of vaccines, and when people will be called up for those vaccines. So, I'm assuming we have to wait for more information to come forward.

This morning, myself and the constituency Member for the Vale of Glamorgan were approached by a Barry care home, where the vaccination team had turned up with little or no PPE to perform the vaccinations within that care home, other than masks. Can you confirm that, under the plan, PPE will be an integral part of the delivery mechanism of the vaccination programme in Wales and that there's a plentiful supply of PPE, so there's no reason why teams should be out in the community delivering the vaccination without PPE?

It's important, also, to understand how many no-shows are actually happening when people are booking themselves in. Have you any numbers that you could provide Members with this afternoon to show the no-show rate at vaccination centres here in Wales? And when will all counties have a vaccination centre? The First Minister was asked on this specifically in First Minister's questions, and I note today that Barry, the largest town in Wales, in the council area of the Vale of Glamorgan, does not have a centre, as does Pembrokeshire not have a centre designated. Are you in a position to tell us when that map might be filled in so that all counties in Wales will have that vaccination centre?

And finally, it has been alluded to, the fact that to speed up the vaccination programme, there is the opportunity for 24/7 vaccination. Is this something that's under active consideration under the plan, Minister, and if it is, are you able to tell us how this might accelerate the speed of vaccination across Wales? Thank you very much.