Rhun ap Iorwerth calls for reassurances that vaccine protocol change will not undermine effectiveness

PLAID CYMRU’S Shadow Health Minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, has called on the Welsh Government to ask for the publication of evidence to justify the delay between the two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine from 21 days to 12 weeks.

The UK Government announced yesterday that the interval between doses would change, after apparent agreement between the four Chief Medical Officers. However, the Welsh Government did not refer to a change in guidelines for the roll-out in its statement to the Senedd yesterday (Wednesday 30 December).

In a letter to the Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, Mr ap Iorwerth says that the “sudden switch” represents “a very significant departure” from previous guidelines, which has not been explained to the public.

Mr ap Iorwerth says that there are “very real concerns” that the new delay between doses “could significantly decrease the effectiveness of the vaccine” and has asked for the publication of evidence on which the decision was made.

In the letter, Rhun ap Iorwerth says:

“Amid the genuine relief yesterday that the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine had been approved for use in the UK, your statement to the Senedd made no reference to a change in guidelines for the roll-out of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

“Everything I have read points to the need to administer a second dose as close to the recommended 21 days as possible. A sudden switch to a maximum 12-week interval between doses, outlined by UK Government yesterday, after apparent agreement between the four Chief Medical Officers, represents a very significant departure from those guidelines.

“Given the very real concerns that the delay in administering the second dose could significantly decrease the effectiveness of the vaccine, could you please provide the scientific and medical evidence on which this decision was made, including the approval that has been given by Pfizer/BioNTech for this change in protocol?

“I would also be grateful for your comments on the ethics of administering a first dose on the understanding that the second would follow in 21 days, only for those who received it to subsequently be told they may have to wait up to 12 weeks.”