Former MP slams rollout of boosters for elderly
VETERAN health campaigner and former Welsh Labour MP Ann Clwyd, pictured, has raised concerns about the roll-out of Covid booster jabs after being invited to get her third vaccination at a location nine miles from her home.
Ms Clwyd, 84, who represented Cynon Valley and before that Aberdare for 35 years until 2019, lives in Cardiff.
But she was given an appointment to get her booster jab at Llantrisant Leisure Centre, which is not in the area covered by the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
She said: “This doesn’t sound at all well-organised to me.
“It’s a long way from Cardiff to Llantisant and many people aged over 80 don’t have a car. Why can’t they get their booster jab more locally?”
The ex-MP said a friend had told her of a number to call that would allow her to make an appointment to have the jab in Cardiff.
“I phoned the number several times before I became number 20 in the queue. I hung on for nearly 30 minutes and then got through. I was booked for Tesco in Western Avenue, Cardiff.
“I’ve told friends who are over 80 and six of them have got the jab by doing the same as me.
“The invitation to go to Llantrisant came this week.
“Given the situation we’re in, with infection rates among the highest in the world, the whole thing seems to me to be crazy and irresponsible.”
A spokeswoman for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: “In line with guidance from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation, we have begun offering the Covid-19 booster vaccination to all those eligible in Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan.
“We have adapted our vaccination programme to deliver booster vaccinations using a cluster model.
“For those aged 80 and over, along with the option to attend one of our MVCs, we have offered an appointment at either a GP practice or a community pharmacy so it is closer to home. In some circumstances, those aged 80 and over have also received their vaccination at home from our mobile vaccination team.
“On this occasion the individual was invited to attend a community pharmacy near her place of residence. We apologise for the confusion in receiving an appointment for a different health board area and have raised this with our colleagues in NHS Wales.”