A view from Clwyd South’s Member of the Senedd

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South constituency Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home. (You can view an archive here).

Clwyd South MS Ken Skates writes…

After a year like we have never experienced before, it is pleasing to be able to start my final Wrexham.com column of 2020 with some good news that I hope will bring us all some optimism as we look ahead to the new year.

Last week the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the first Covid-19 vaccine to be used in the UK – the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine – which will start being rolled out to the most vulnerable people in Wales from tomorrow.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, along with all other NHS organisations in Wales, have carried out simulation exercises – essentially dry runs – to test distribution and storage arrangements and to ensure the vaccine can be transported safely to every part of Wales.

Wales is ready to deploy the vaccine in priority phases. People will automatically be sent appointments with details of where they will receive the vaccination – there will be no need to apply for or to ask your GP. The Welsh Immunisation System will also automatically schedule second doses, send appointment letters and keep records of every vaccination.

The vaccine will not be compulsory, but the Welsh Government will continue to provide clear information to the public and urge people to seek NHS advice so they have the right information to make an informed choice.

We also saw last week that a Wrexham company will be playing a huge part in the fightback against Covid-19, with the news that Wockhardt UK Ltd will be making the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine if it is approved by the MHRA. The plant on the industrial estate has the capability to produce around 300 million doses of vaccine a year and preparations to produce 150,000 vials a day have been under way for several weeks.

While these breakthroughs are very welcome news, we cannot let our guard down while we await the full roll-out in Wales. The people of Wrexham and Clwyd South have consistently shown throughout this crisis that we are more than up to the challenge of making sacrifices for the greater good, and I am confident we will continue in that vein. We must all continue to do our bit to prevent the spread of coronavirus to protect ourselves, our loved ones and others.

You can read Health Minister Vaughan Gething’s written statement here and the Welsh Government has a frequently-asked-questions page about Covid-19 vaccines which can be found here.

The Christmas period can be an incredibly hard time, and with the year we have had it is only to be expected that the next few weeks will be very tough for some people.

Often, people we would never suspect are suffering with their mental health are the ones who are struggling most – our friends and family, our neighbours, our colleagues.

I have spoken about my own mental health issues in the past, and I know many people who have also had their own battles. It is important to know that there is help available through a number of charities who do an amazing job.

They include Mind Cymru (call 0300 123 3393 or visit their website here); Samaritans Cymru (116 123 and website here); CALL Helpline Wales (0800 132 737 and website here) and Hafal (01792 816 600 and website here), but there are countless other organisations which can help.

It is also important to know that it’s OK not to be OK.

We can all help those who are struggling. The values of unity, community spirit, kindness and empathy flow in the veins of Welsh people. They values which have seen us pull together this year in the face of a virus which has claimed more than a million lives across the world.

Although I am unable to hold public surgeries at present, my team and I are still here to help and are continuing to deal with casework as normal. This will continue throughout the Christmas period. If you need advice or support, please email [email protected] and include your full home address and contact number. You can also find useful information about coronavirus support on my website www.kenskates.co.uk and Facebook page @KenSkatesMS. I also put out regular e-newsletters with the latest Welsh Government coronavirus updates and local news, which you can subscribe to here.

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South constituency Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home. (You can view an archive here).