LEADER OF PLAID CYMRU DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM FM ON WALES’ VACCINE GAP

“It’s not an unreasonable question”

The Leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price MS, has demanded a “coherent, clear answer” to the question of why Wales lags behind the other UK nations when it comes to administering the vaccine.

Mr Price revealed that his own parents – both over the age of 80 – have yet to hear when they’re going to get the vaccine and said that this was of particular concern since his father, an ex-miner with COPD, is classed as clinically vulnerable.

During today’s FMQs, the Plaid Cymru Leader quizzed whether the issue is that Wales has a higher proportion of people in the higher priority groups, and called on the First Minister to clarify whether Wales should be getting a higher share of vaccine based on need rather than population.

Leader of Plaid Cymru Adam Price MS said,

“My question is not unreasonable – I simply want to know why Wales is slower in vaccinating its population than the UK as a whole.

“We’ve been told that supply is consistent across all four nations, but we’re yet to receive a coherent, clear answer as to what explains the gap.

“It’s a reasonable question, and if there is a problem, we can solve it.

“Once again, we return to the question of whether we should be getting a higher share of vaccine based on need. We know that Wales has a larger proportion of people in the higher priority groups, and so an initial delivery based on population rather than need may go some way to explaining why people like my parents are yet to receive a call.

“Communication really is key and I can’t stress this enough. People like my parents are genuinely worried and the lack of contact does nothing to restore their trust in the system.”