Member of the Senedd (MS) Siân Gwenllian, has praised local coronavirus vaccination efforts in Arfon.
As of 24 January, 61,069 people in North Wales had received their first COVID-19 Vaccination
63% of Priority Groups 1 + 2 have received their first vaccination dose compared to 28% this time last week.
Siân Gwenllian praised the success of the local vaccination efforts “despite a whole host of bureaucratic barriers and snow.”
The local MS has said: “I have it on good authority that the vaccination efforts in local surgeries and in Canolfan Brailsford, Bangor is well-organized and effective.
“It is now of the upmost importance that people remain patient, and wait their turn to be called for a vaccination.
“Also, it’s vital to stress that a second vaccination must be administered before patients are safe.
“I understand people’s frustration, and I have requested that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board provide a specific contact number for people who might believe they have been left behind.
“I also understand that some problems have occurred in parts of the constituency, including parts of Dyffryn Nantlle. I am also aware of problems with the post. I’d like to assure constituents that I am raising these concerns with the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board”
Gill Harris, Deputy Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “Last week we saw a significant increase in the supply of vaccines that we received and administered. Between 18 January and 24 January we vaccinated nearly 27,500 people and we are on track to reach the target set by Welsh Government to vaccinate all those in Priority groups 1-4 by the middle of February. This is a total of 183,000 people.
“We are also on track to vaccinate all over 80’s by the end of the month. This has been achieved through Hospital Vaccination Centres, Mass Vaccination Centres, GP surgeries and clusters, community pharmacies, and mobile units.
“Over the 7 day period commencing January 25 we plan to vaccinate 33,250 using – 17,250 Pfizer vaccines and 16,000 Astrazeneca.
“Our first Local Vaccination Centre (LVC) opened on Tuesday in the Catrin Finch Centre in Wrexham. It will be open Tuesday to Thursday. The LVC will provide greater capacity in an area with the largest population mass, supplementing the capability of the local GPs and the Mass Vaccination Centre in Deeside.
“By the end of the month, the vast majority of BCUHB frontline staff will have received their first vaccine. The Hospital Vaccination Centres (HVC) at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Glan Clwyd Hospital and Wrexham Maelor will close temporarily at the end of this week. Any outstanding members of staff in Priority group 2 will be invited to the Mass Vaccination Centres for vaccination. The HVC in Wrexham will reopen at the end of February, and in Bangor and Glan Clwyd at the beginning of March, to start the process of giving frontline staff their second dose of the vaccine.
“Over the weekend, BCUHB was involved in a national pilot where clusters of GP practices vaccinated thousands of people using the Pfizer vaccine. The plans for the pilot moved at an extraordinary pace from the start of discussion at the weekend to being given the go-ahead on the Wednesday night. Despite the snow on Sunday, around 1,000 priority cohort patients were vaccinated by the South Flintshire Primary Care cluster in Buckley, with another 1,000 in Nefyn by three GP practices in the Dwyfor cluster. Altogether, over 2,000 over 80s were vaccinated as part of this successful pilot and we will now be feeding back on its success into the national planning for Pfizer delivery.
“Our Mass Vaccination Centre in Llandudno was also used on Saturday and Sunday by the local GPs in Conwy. Using the AZ vaccine, they vaccinated more than 1,000 residents over 80 on Saturday and Sunday.
“Following the successful pilot earlier in the month with a community Pharmacy in Dwyfor (Fferyllwyr LLyn), we have now canvassed expressions of interest from Community Pharmacies across north Wales to participate in the delivery programme. So far 50 per cent have expressed an interest. We are now working on the practicalities of extending this method of vaccinating.”
As well as praising the local vaccination efforts, Siân Gwenllian pressed the First Minister for an update on the local vaccination programme in her constituency of Arfon.
The First Minister, Mark Drakeford MS responded noting that “within Arfon, all primary care practices are ready to deliver the vaccine” and that Bangor “has one of the three mass vaccinations centres in north Wales.”
Siân Gwenllian, Arfon’s representative in the Senedd, went on to raise concerns about logistical discrepancies, referring specifically to problems surrounding IT issues.
The MS addressed the First Minister Mark Drakeford; “The ICT systems at the various levels don’t communicate with each other, and this is creating confusion.
“For example, GPs can’t see which of their patients have had a vaccination appointment at one of the mass vaccination centres, and that could mean that some people receive two appointments and that a valuable vaccination is wasted.
“That’s just one example. Can you actually try and find a swift resolution to these IT problems? They’ve come to my attention in Arfon, but it’s likely that they are common across Wales.”
The First Minister responded claiming “Things are happening so quickly and the NHS Wales Informatics Service is trying to resolve these problems that have arisen.
We’re aware of the problems, and people are working very hard to resolve them.”
Siân Gwenllian concluded by reiterating her praise of “heroic local efforts under extremely difficult circumstances.”
Photos: (1) A patient receiving her vaccination at Bodnant Surgery in Bangor (2) Siân Gwenllian
