Call for Covid vaccine to be prioritised for funeral directors from North Wales MS

A North Wales MS is calling on the Welsh Government to consider prioritising the covid vaccine for funeral directors.

Clwyd West’s Conservative representative Darren Millar said they should be immunised given their important role as key workers caring for the bodies of the deceased, including those who have passed away with the coronavirus.

England and Scotland have classed funeral directors as essential and prioritised the group for vaccines, but Wales has not.

Mr Millar has therefore tabled a question to the Welsh Government asking what consideration it has given to adding funeral directors to the priority list.

He said: “Funeral directors and funeral staff carry out essential work, yet in Wales they are currently not being prioritised for the vaccine.

“These workers have to go into private homes, care homes and any other establishments where people pass away.

“They have to in some circumstances handle and bag bodies of those who are Covid positive or are suspected to have Covid and transport them to hospitals for post-mortem Covid tests.

“It therefore seems ludicrous that they are not currently included in the priority vaccine category, which includes all those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers.

“I have received correspondence from funeral directors in my constituency who are deeply concerned about the risks both they and their staff are currently facing.

“The Welsh Government really need to look at this and consider adding these essential workers to the priority list as soon as they can.”