Charlie Evans, Conservative candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd at the Senedd Election, is calling on the Welsh Labour Government to expand the use of pharmacists in Gwynedd to administer the COVID19 vaccine.
Mr Evans said: “I am delighted Fferyllwyr H L Taylor Pharmacy in Llanbedrog became the first pharmacy in Wales to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. What was clear on Wales Today was the professionalism of the pharmacist in administering the vaccine and the joy of the patients receiving it.
“Pharmacists are desperate to be utilised to protect the people of Wales from COVID and have significant experience in administering the flu jab. I want to see every pharmacy in Gwynedd that is willing, to be given the doses to do just that.”
First Minister Mark Drakeford however told Friday's Welsh Government press briefing that not all pharmacy premises would be suitable to deliver the Covid vaccines. He said some community pharmacists could be asked to administer vaccinations at mass vaccination centres instead, in cases where spaces for vaccinations are small at pharmacies with high volumes of people.
Mr Evans commented, “In rural Dwyfor and Meirionnydd, many people in the priority groups do not have transport to get to the mass vaccination centres. Community pharmacies and GP practices are much more appropriate for Gwynedd's villages. Also, public confidence has to be at the heart of the vaccination program- pharmacists know their patients and are trusted pillars of the community.
“Whilst Wales’ vaccine program is slowly beginning to accelerate, Wales at the moment lags behind England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Wales is sitting on thousands of unused doses. The First Minister has said this is not a sprint. I completely disagree. This is a race to protect the most vulnerable from this virus and ministers need to use all the resources available to them."
