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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:20 pm on 2 February 2021.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 3:20, 2 February 2021

(Translated)

Thank you very much, Llywydd, and thank you for the statement. I'm also very pleased to see the ground that's been gained in terms of the vaccination process in Wales. There are enthusiastic teams of vaccinators in all parts of the country, and I hear very positive reports of the experience that people have in accessing the vaccine, and that's to be welcomed.

I will ask the first question emerging from that. Given that things are developing well at the moment, and I agree entirely with the Minister's comments that supply is the problem, not the number of vaccinators, but given that Novavax and Janssen are to come on stream soon, is it the Government's intention to move forward the target for vaccinating the whole population? I think we could now try and be more ambitious, if truth be told, and that's a very positive note.

Now, although things are developing well, there are still concerns—concerns about the mix of Pfizer and AstraZeneca that we receive here in Wales. Of course, it would be easier if we had more of the vaccine that's easier to administer, and I'll ask the same question that I ask every week: can we have the data on how much of each vaccination is distributed to all nations and to all parts of Wales, in the spirit of transparency, so that we can identify any systematic problems? I know that the Minister suggested last week that he now agrees that it would be useful to have that data, and that he is going to try and get that data, so can we have an update on that?

May I also make an appeal to the Government not to invite people to doubt the figures by failing to be entirely open in the statements that you make? We recall the Government saying that they were a little short of the target of 70 per cent of over-80s; well, that figure was 52.8 per cent, and that's a bit more than falling short. So, be transparent on the way that the figures are released.

Likewise, we are seeing the older people's commissioner having to point out that she is concerned that a quarter of people in care homes still haven't been vaccinated. The figures as to where we are aren't included in the statement, aren't included in that information that's easiest to access by the public. So, be upfront about these figures so that we can see where we are. There is plenty of good news to focus on. Let us see where the problems are, too, so that everyone can see where those problems are.

One question, if I may, specifically on the front-line ambulance service staff. It is a concern that a substantial number, perhaps, weren't willing to take the vaccination. So, could I have your comments on the concerns that that could put patients at risk? What's the Government's view on that?

And a question that I asked last week, which I didn't receive a response to: the mRNA technology is new technology. The storage requirements mean that we need a new kind of infrastructure. It's very possible that we will become more and more reliant on that new vaccination technology, possibly to deal with new variants and so on. So, what consideration is now being given to investing in infrastructure that will make it easier to handle that kind of vaccine? Because it's possible that we will be far more reliant on it in future years.