More people in North Wales have received Covid vaccination than anywhere else in Wales, according to new data

New figures show that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) has administered more than 10,500 vaccine jabs so far, the highest number of any health board in Wales.

The data, which was first published by sister site Deeside.com today, about BCUHB was circulated to officials and politicians this morning shows the health board vaccinated 2,234 people on Thursday and 2,448 on Wednesday.

Public Health Wales published its weekly vaccination update yesterday, it showed that just 5,884 had received the jab in North Wales up to the week ending January 3.

That prompted criticism over the speed of the rollout of the vaccine in the region, the Welsh Conservatives stated that a “postcode lottery” is starting to emerge.

However claims of vaccine disparity were rejected by Health Minister Vaughan Gething who said that all parts of Wales will receive their fair share of the coronavirus vaccines.

The new BCUHB data shows has 10,568 vaccinations have been administered in North Wales.

Aneurin Bevan health board which covers Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and South Powys has administered the second highest number of vaccinations in Wales with 10,115 given since the start of the programme.

Wrexham’s Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths, has met with the Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) today to be updated on the progress of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in Wrexham and across the region.

Health Boards are responsible for managing the rollout and BCUHB says it is “confident” of their supply of both the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines for the next four weeks.

As a result, a programme of delivery is being prepared and Ms Griffiths has been assured she will have sight of the plan early next week.

Lesley Griffiths MS said: “Many constituents have contacted me regarding the progress of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in Wrexham so I am grateful to the Health Board for providing me with this latest information.

“I was pleased to discover, as of yesterday, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board had administered more vaccinations than any other Health Board in Wales.  In Wrexham, I am aware some General Practitioners have already started to vaccinate the over 80s.

“I understand this is a stressful time but people must remember this is the largest vaccination programme our country has ever undertaken.  It is a major operation that only commenced one month ago and it will clearly take time to vaccinate everyone in the priority groups.”

The Oxford vaccine rollout started at the beginning of this week, with BCUHB receiving 5,000 doses to immunise care home staff and residents, as well as hospital inpatients and those over the age of 80.

Moving forward, the intention is that a large number of the over 80s will be vaccinated via Local Vaccination Centres (LVCs).  A network will be set up across the region, two of which will be located in the Wrexham County Borough area.

Lesley Griffiths MS added: “Throughout the pandemic, it has been difficult to plan too far ahead with the situation often changing frequently and rapidly.

“I am aware, however, people want and deserve to be kept informed of the latest developments.  It has been confirmed health boards and local authorities will be writing to everyone in Wales about the Covid-19 vaccine in the coming days, and everyone in the priority groups will be invited to attend a clinic for an appointment.

“I hope the Health Board’s delivery plan, due to be revealed early next week, will outline the next steps and give people greater peace of mind.  As always, I will continue to keep constituents in Wrexham up-to-date with the latest information and work to ensure the town and North Wales receives its fair share of supplies.”

Earlier this week the BBC Local Democracy Service reported that BCUHB had outlined plans to rapidly “accelerate” roll-out of vaccinations across the region after initial “supply chain” problems.

This week the board is also receiving more than 8,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will eventually be using up to 19 mass vaccination centres, GP surgeries, mobile immunisation teams and the military to increase roll-out of both Pfizer/BioNtech and newly approved Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccines.

Commenting earlier this week on the vaccine role out, a BCUHB spokesperson said: “We want to reassure people across North Wales that we have a robust and well-considered plan to administer the vaccine to all of our priority groups as quickly and as safely as possible.

“Over the course of our Covid-19 vaccination programme, we will receive an allocation in proportion to the size of our priority population.

“We have commissioned significantly more mass vaccination centre and hospital vaccination centre sites than any other health board and have well developed plans in place to introduce local vaccination centres and mobile vaccination teams.

“We are very well placed to accelerate our roll-out of the vaccine, taking advantage of the greater volumes we expect to receive in the coming weeks.

“We now have both the increased availability of vaccines as well as more staff and vaccination sites to help us reach more people, more quickly.”

Members of the public are also reminded that when it is their turn for vaccination, they will be contacted by the NHS with appointment details.