3. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on COVID-19 Vaccinations

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:46 pm on 2 February 2021.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 3:46, 2 February 2021

I thank the Member for that question. On the issue of transport workers in particular, the recent ONS publication confirmed what we knew from the first wave, that transport workers, their occupation does mean they're more at risk compared to the wider population and there's a material difference. So, that's part of what the JCVI have been looking at when they're thinking about prioritisation outside groups 1 to 9. It's also why it's really important for all employers to think about what they're doing in terms of the increased need to risk assess what's happening as well. Some of these people, of course, will be self-employed. Most taxi drivers are self-employed. And we're thinking about whether there is a need, from our point of view, for further guidance on that to protect those workers from harm.

I take on board what you say about housebound members of the public. If you live in an older adult care home, then we are already going out to protect you. There is a range of other people in communities who are housebound for different reasons, and it's part of the reason why the link with primary care is so important. We do have mobile vaccine teams within each health board area, but it will need to be a conversation with general practice about where those housebound residents exist, because the NHS creating a central mobile team won't in itself mean they know who every person is. So, that's why it's really important to have the link-up and the points Vikki Howells made earlier about the link-up to the Welsh immunisation system, to make sure we understand who's doing what and who's going out to visit those people to make sure they're covered, as opposed to double-counted.

And finally, I should say I take on board the significant achievement that yourself, Vikki Howells, and others have mentioned, across parties, to congratulate our staff for what they're doing. It really is significant. On our pace in what we're doing, to give you an idea, in the last seven days the average number per 100,000 is 452 in Scotland for the vaccine, 469 in Northern Ireland, 609 in England, but 680 in Wales. That shows the pace that we're going at over this last week and I'm tremendously grateful for everyone who is playing their part in doing so.