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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:58 pm on 11 January 2022.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 4:58, 11 January 2022

Thanks very much, Rhianon. You're absolutely right that the pressure the NHS is under at the moment is truly extraordinary, which is why, of course, we're trying to direct people to get the right help at the right time in the right place. We're directing people to use the 111 service. There are online services that people can use. They can use their local pharmacies for some ailments. And so, we're trying to take as much pressure off the NHS staff as we possibly can.

In terms of vaccination centres, we're thrilled to bits with the incredible achievement over the three weeks. To vaccinate, to boost 1.3 million people in such a short space of time is something that we shouldn't take for granted. It is truly a feat that we should all be incredibly proud of. I'm not sure if that could happen anywhere else in the world without the kind of NHS that we've learnt to grow and love. Just in terms of the vaccination clinics, they are now available in every health board. So, there is a facility, and if people want to know where they can go for their vaccinations, they should look at the website for their health board—that will direct you to where you can go.

In terms of the unvaccinated, the good news is that, actually, as a result of the booster programme and the big campaign and the publicity campaign around that, actually what we've seen is an increase in the number of people coming forward for their first doses and their second doses. So, we are pleased to see that figure just edging up constantly, because that is the best protection that we can give to people. So, we are very pleased to see that that's happening, but we will continue that outreach, as we have done throughout the vaccination programme.