"This is the largest vaccination programme our country has ever undertaken"

Many constituents have contacted me regarding the progress of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in Wrexham and across the region.

Last week I received an update from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), which stated it will be using a combination of vaccination centres, doctors surgeries, mobile immunisation teams and the military to increase the rollout in the coming days and weeks.

All three Mass Vaccination Centres are operational (in Bangor, Llandudno and Deeside), together with three Hospital Vaccination Centres (Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Ysbyty Gwynedd). No other Health Board commissioned this number of sites and established this scale of delivery in the initial weeks. During December, the priority was to provide the vaccine to care home staff and high risk frontline healthcare workers.

The approval of the second vaccine at the end of last month - the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine - will help the Health Board significantly increase its rollout plans this month.

This started last Monday (January 4) with BCUHB confirming there is an increased availability of vaccines and that it has ensured more staff are available at the vaccination sites to help reach people in the priority groups more quickly.

Unlike the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is stored at normal fridge temperatures. This means it will have few storage and transportation issues, making it much easier to use in community settings such as care homes and GP surgeries.

Last week, the Health Board received 5,000 doses of the Oxford vaccine to immunise care home staff and residents, as well as hospital inpatients and those over the age of 80.

Moving forward, the intention is that a large number of the over 80s will be vaccinated via Local Vaccination Centres (LVCs). A network will be set up across the region, two of which will be located in the Wrexham County Borough area.

A number of people have approached me expressing their concern they are yet to be contacted. I understand it has been a difficult and stressful time but I would ask people to remain patient.

This is the largest vaccination programme our country has ever undertaken. It is a major operation that only commenced one month ago and it will clearly take time to vaccinate everyone in the priority groups.

The Welsh Government confirmed last week health boards and local authorities will be writing to everyone in Wales about the Covid-19 vaccine in the coming days, and everyone in the priority groups will be invited to attend a clinic for an appointment.

I am aware constituents in Wrexham in the priority groups have started to receive their vaccinations and with supplies becoming more readily available, I am assured people will receive further updates and information in the coming days and weeks.