ELUNED MORGAN WELCOMES VACCINATION ROLL OUT PLANS

Labour MS Eluned Morgan has welcomed an update today from Hywel Dda Health Board for the roll out of Covid19 jabs in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion as GP surgeries sign up to take part in the vaccination programme.

Latest figures from Public Health Wales show that in Carmarthenshire the current case rate is 405 per 100,000, in Pembrokeshire 202.7 per 100,000 and 198.1 per 100,000 in Ceredigion.

In an update to politicians today (Friday 8^th January), Hywel Dda Health Board Chief Executive Steve Moore said that all GP practices in the region have signed up to administer the vaccine as soon as supply becomes available.

To date, 10,131 vaccinations have been given across the three counties, which is 2.6% of the population – higher than the average rate reported across the four nations of the UK in recent days.

Eluned Morgan MS said: “It is a really important development that all 51 GP practices across Hywel Dda will deliver the vaccine when it becomes available with around 14 surgeries coming online from the 18^th January,  Supply of the Oxford vaccine is being managed through Public Health England.”

“I recognise people are keen to hear when they will be able to have their jab.  GPs will be writing to people in the priority groups to call them for their vaccination. Please wait to be called to avoid placing the NHS under additional strain.”

“Alongside rollout at GP surgeries, Hywel Dda Health Board will continue with their Mass Vaccination Centres in Carmarthen and Cardigan.  Vaccination centres are also due to open at Withybush and Bronglais hospitals when further doses of the Pfizer vaccination are made available in the coming weeks – expected to be Monday 18^th January. Hywel Dda Health Board has also said that a vaccination centre will be open at Prince Philip Hospital from the 25^th January.”

The Welsh Government confirmed today that lockdown restrictions will remain in place for a further three weeks and schools may remain closed until the February half term should infection rates not fall significantly.

Eluned Morgan continued: “It is really important that we all continue to adhere to the public health advice to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.  The most important thing we can do right now is observe the stay at home message and when it is absolutely essential to leave home, we hand sanitize, maintain a minimum of 2 metres distance from others and use a face covering.  The quicker we beat Coronavirus, the quicker we can get life back to normal.”