8. Will the First Minister provide an update on the COVID-19 vaccination rates in Islwyn? OQ56757

Thank you. Our vaccination programme across the whole of Wales continues to make excellent progress. Aneurin Bevan University Health Board's vaccination roll-out also continues to be successful for both first and second doses of the vaccination across its catchment area.

Diolch. The Newbridge mass vaccination centre opened its doors last Saturday for a walk-in clinic for all of those Islwyn adults who have yet to receive a first dose. The Welsh health Minister, Eluned Morgan, has rightly stated that we will have to live with the virus. The fantastic success of the speed, though, of the Welsh vaccination roll-out, thanks to our Welsh NHS, has afforded us amazing protection, yet, as Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief UK scientific adviser, has cautioned, the data suggests the link between coronavirus cases and hospital admissions has been weakened, but not completely broken. To date, 2,264,974 people in Wales have at least one coronavirus vaccine, with 1,730,632 having both doses. Minister, what can we do to further drive up the vaccination rates in Islwyn and Wales, and how will the Welsh Government ensure that we will move forward with caution to keep Wales safe?

Thank you. Our vaccination programme has been just a joy to behold, hasn't it? And I'm sure many of us have visited our local vaccination centres and seen the incredible work that's been done to ensure as many people as possible have received both their first and second dose. I think we all have a role to play in encouraging our constituents to take up their vaccine, and certainly I know that Betsi Cadwaladr have written to us as MSs to see what we can do to encourage people, and I think everybody across Wales can do that. I know Aneurin Bevan health board have had walk-in clinics for first doses, and you mentioned the one at Newbridge leisure centre, where several 100 vaccines were given out over the weekend. I think it's really important that all health boards do work with community leaders to make sure we cascade those messages down, whether it's by word of mouth, whether it's by our social media channels. I think, again, having those vaccination centres where you can just walk in is really important, and certainly we are seeing more of those coming up right across Wales. I also read something last night around more volunteers coming forward, because, for those of us that have been, obviously, to vaccination centres ourselves, we've seen the many volunteers that have helped run the vaccination clinics so smoothly.

I thank the Trefnydd who answered questions on behalf of the First Minister. Before we move on to the next item, may I just remind Members that flags and banners as a Zoom background are no longer acceptable? I see that the Member I'm referring to is no longer in the Zoom meeting, but if I could ask a representative of Plaid Cymru to speak to that Member and to ensure that that flag isn't in place the next time that Member contributes.