Emergency Question: The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 1:46 pm on 19 January 2021.

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Photo of David Lloyd David Lloyd Plaid Cymru 1:46, 19 January 2021

My inbox on vaccine roll-out is full of anger, and our wonderful staff are chomping at the bit to deliver the vaccine. Now, we know Welsh Government has bought into the UK Government procurement for various vaccines, as we've heard. Can I ask what flexibility is there in the agreed provision of the Pfizer vaccine versus the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine? Is there flexibility to change as the situation potentially changes, or as the challenges change? Is there flexibility in the procurement agreement? Is Wales getting its fair share of the Oxford-AZ vaccine, which is easier to roll out within GP surgeries and community pharmacies and all the rest?

My final point is: with high circulating levels of COVID still, though the lockdown is working and the figures are coming down, there remains high probability of new mutant strains developing, which is why you must vaccinate as a matter of urgency—pull out all the stops. The Welsh Government must be braver in its roll-out and go for broke and press for more vaccines if we're in danger of running out. Minister, would you agree, and also would you agree we must be flexible? If there's vaccine available anywhere, we must go for it. No administrative straitjacket should hold up this urgent vaccination programme.