“Serious questions remain” on vaccine rollout warn Plaid as Oxford vaccine programme begins in Wales, warns Plaid Cymru

THE rollout of the second Covid vaccine (Oxford-AstraZeneca) is due to begin in Wales today.

Plaid Cymru Shadow Minister for Health Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said that Wales had been behind “every other UK nation” in terms of numbers vaccinated and warned the Welsh Government against a “postcode lottery”.

The Shadow Health Minister also called for “clarity” on the evidence for changing the protocols for vaccine delivery.

Mr ap Iorwerth said the decision to delay the second dose for up to 12 weeks with both vaccines has caused “real concern” among doctors who fear it could dramatically undermine its effectiveness.

Responding to the start of the rollout of the second Covid vaccine in Wales today, Plaid Cymru Shadow Minister for Health Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said,

“I’m pleased that we now have a second vaccine being rolled out, but serious questions remain about the roll-out plans.

“Wales has been behind every other UK nation in terms of numbers vaccinated, and there’s far too much variation from region to region – Welsh Government mustn’t allow a postcode lottery.

“And we must have clarity on the evidence base for changing the protocols for vaccine delivery – the decision to delay the second dose for up to 12 weeks with both vaccines has caused real concern among many doctors who fear it could dramatically undermine its effectiveness.”