Calls for third Covid vaccine dose for Wales

Plaid Cymru Deputy Leader, member of the Welsh Parliament, Sian Gwenllian has called for more detail from Welsh Government on their vaccination plan, including how a potential third dose would be rolled out across Wales.

File photo dated 19/02/21 of a Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine being prepared. All 16 and 17-year-olds in England will be offered their first Covid jab by August 23, under a new target set by the Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who has said offering young people the vaccine by this date will allow those teenagers in that age bracket the two weeks necessary to build maximum immunity before returning to school in September. Issue date: Sunday August 15, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus Vaccines. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

Ms Gwenllian, who is also spokesperson for young people and children, has also called for an update on vaccine roll-out in young people. The latest figures from Public Health Wales indicate that just over half of 16 and 17-year-olds have received a first dose, and just 10 per cent have received a second.

The calls come following the latest Welsh Government review of Covid restrictions, where they are not expected to make any further changes.

Schools in Wales will reopen from September 1.

Plaid Cymru’s Deputy Leader in the Senedd, Sian Gwenllian MS said,

“All through the pandemic we’ve highlighted the importance of good, clear communication from Welsh Government. Now, at a time when cases are again on the rise, its vitally important that Welsh Government is upfront about what the data is telling them - specifically on how the vaccination programme has impacted on the number of people requiring hospital treatment from Covid.

“People are also keen to find out whether the government has made plans for a third vaccine dose – with talk that immunity may decrease over time, it’s important that government can reassure us that it has a plan should a third dose be required.

“That this rise in cases is happening the week before pupils return to school is an additional cause for concern. We need reassurance there’s increased focus on monitoring the spread of the virus in children and young people, especially as only half of 16 and 17-year-olds have received a first dose of the vaccine. We can’t allow the virus to spread freely amongst our children and young people, especially with emerging evidence about the impact of long-Covid on this age group.”