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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:49 pm on 9 February 2021.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 4:49, 9 February 2021

Thank you for the recognition of the significant pace and scale of improvement over the last few weeks in the programme. There is always more to do, but I think everyone can take a share of pride in what we're doing across the country.

On your point about the future infection rates, full protection isn't provided until some weeks after the first jab has been provided, and then the second dose should provide a greater level of protection, but also longevity as well. The reality is that we won't know more about that until we're actually in a phase of having surveillance and understanding what then happens with the population. That's when we'll know more about transmission, as well as longer term protection, whether we will need to have future vaccination programmes, and, potentially, the frequency of those as well. There is still a range of unknowns, but what we do know is that the vaccines we have are effective, they're safe, and everyone should take up the opportunity to have their vaccine when they are offered it by our NHS.

On whether we've caught up with England regarding 1 to 4 and your question about whether population share or whether the need base within the priority groups governs supply, there was a pragmatic choice made between all four health Ministers in the UK that population shares were the neatest and the quickest way to make sure that vaccines came out. Then, the Prime Minister introduced a different target that actually then rehighlighted that there are different percentages of the population within those priority groups. I have had several conversations with Nadhim Zahawi about the reality that that changes the picture, and we then need assurances that we will have an adequate supply coming into Wales to meet priority groups 1 to 4. We do think we'll have adequate supply, but we haven't seen a bump-up over and above our Barnett share in terms of population. That means that we think we're going to have enough to cover groups 1 to 4, but the programme in Wales has to be even more efficient than programmes within the rest of the UK to meet that target, both in terms of correctly identifying and inviting people in groups 1 to 4 to come forward, as well as then delivering it, as well as getting on top and making sure we have a very minimal level of wastage as well. We're able to do that, and that's why I think we have some confidence that we will get to that milestone of groups 1 to 4.

On the question about over-80s, I think we've answered this question on many occasions. We didn't reach the over-80s milestone at the time, when we expected to, but we have now got to 86.1 per cent of over-80s, and the figures published today were at 79 per cent for 75 to 79-year-olds. On older people's care homes, we have completed 679 out of 691. There is literally a handful of older people's care homes left, and that is because they've had active infections within them. So, we're doing remarkably well. On the figures published today—you asked about our comparisons with England and others, and how does Sunday and Monday compare; we've published those figures. On a population share, Wales has now vaccinated 19.9 per cent, in England it's 19.1, in Scotland it's 17 per cent. The figures in Northern Ireland aren't available yet. On the population above the age of 16, Wales has vaccinated 24.3 per cent, England 23.7 per cent and Scotland 20.4 per cent. So, in each of those measures, we're maintaining a high rate of achievement in our relative position with other UK nations. But, actually, we still have to keep on going as quickly as possible until the fight is won with the virus.

On UK-wide comms, it would always be helpful if we could have a longer term conversation and one about information in advance rather than having to respond to statements made in other parts of the UK, but that is, as ever, a work in progress.