January 22, 2021 - 686 views
The Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy and the Welsh Conservative Older People’s Champion – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has today spoken about claims that just under a quarter of over 80s in Wales have been given their first dose of Coronavirus vaccine.
Figures from Public Health Wales show that there has been 43,879 doses - which is 23.9% of this priority group for the Covid-19 jab.
Mrs Finch-Saunders is calling on the Welsh Health Minister to urgently clarify comments made in the Senedd earlier this week, when he claimed that “we have already managed to do so for the majority of our over-80s population.”
On Wednesday, in a question to the Minister for Mental Health, she urged the administration to adhere to their original vaccination timescales as a means of confronting poor mental health amongst elderly residents.
In an effort to confront rising anxiety on a local level, the Member has also called for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to ramp up efforts to communicate with residents about the vaccination roll out.
Mrs. Finch-Saunders said: “Mr Gething must now make an urgent statement to clarify these numbers and, if necessary, correct the Senedd record.
“Since the early days of the pandemic we have known that those aged 70 or older, regardless of medical conditions, are at increased risk from COVID-19. It is essential that this vulnerable group is urgently prioritised, with the Covid vaccination roll-out sustained at pace.
“The anxiety and fear felt by many individuals in this age bracket, both in my constituency of Aberconwy and beyond, is palpable. I have long said that our single biggest weapon providing assurance to our most vulnerable constituents is a quick vaccination process.
"The continued bluster from the Welsh Government once again highlights the importance of appointing an individual whose sole focus is on the vaccine rollout in Wales.”
Welsh Government is expected to address concerns during Friday's national press conference this afternoon.
