Emergency Question: The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 1:51 pm on 19 January 2021.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 1:51, 19 January 2021

With respect, I think the Member should listen to the answers that are being given on information. When it comes to the Pfizer supply, we're putting out much more Pfizer supply this week—nearly double what went out last week—and that'll make sure that the increasing number of mass vaccination centres—. We currently have 28 operating and over 90 per cent of those were open this weekend. We're going to move up to 45 vaccination centres within the next week or two. So, actually, that will make sure that we make good use of the Pfizer vaccination supply that we have and we should continue to get into the future.

I understand the concerns of general practitioners, and this was a point that I've dealt with in several other questions, including Dr Lloyd's question immediately before your own. The Oxford-AstraZeneca supply is the one that we're providing to primary care. I know that some people have been frustrated that they haven't received as much as expected, but that's simply a matter of supply into Wales. As we see significant increases take place this week, those supplies will go out very quickly to general practice; they won't be sitting on shelves, they won't be kept somewhere away from practitioners who need to be able to deliver them to protect our citizens. That's exactly what we are doing and exactly what you will see our NHS do.

I hope that the clarity in the information that we're providing today and the clarity in the numbers that you will see increase through the rest of this week will provide the level of confidence that the Member claims she wants to have in this programme and the significant difference it will make to people in every single community up and down the country, as our NHS plays its part in helping to keep Wales safe.