LOCAL politicians are calling on the Welsh Government to base their rollout of the Covid vaccine on need rather than population.

Concerns have also been voiced about why some care homes have still not received the vaccine in rural Gwynedd, despite their residents being listed by the Welsh Government as top priority for inoculation.

Plaid Cymru Senedd candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd Mabon ap Gwynfor is now calling on the Welsh Government to urgently review strategy and distribute both available vaccines based on need, given the greater proportion of elderly residents in parts of rural north Wales.

His comments have been echoed by local Member of Parliament Liz Saville Roberts.

Mabon ap Gwynfor said: “I sympathise with those tasked with rolling-out the Covid-19 vaccines, they face an unprecedented challenge, but they have had several months to prepare and plan for this, so one would hope their systems were sufficiently robust to accommodate some teething problems.

“Currently vaccines are distributed based on population figures. However, I’d urge Welsh Government and the local health board in Gwynedd to ensure higher volumes of the vaccine are sent to areas with a greater number of elderly and vulnerable people who are at greater risk from the virus.

“The Welsh Government’s own vaccine priority rollout list makes it clear that care homes are the number one priority.

"This is understandable, given the number of vulnerable and elderly people living in confined spaces and in relative close proximity.

“As has been tragically highlighted, it only takes one infected case to enter a home for the virus to potentially spread like wildfire, which is why care homes have rightly been identified as first-in-line to receive the vaccine.

“Therefore, questions need to be asked as to why some care homes in Gwynedd are still waiting for the first vaccine.”

Liz Saville Roberts MP added: “People are seeking assurance that the Covid vaccination rollout in the most southerly and rural region of Betsi Cadwaladr’s area will be without delay, fair and according to need.

"Because all the hospital vaccination centres and mass vaccination centres are located along the northern coast, my office will continue to press for details on distribution timelines and the availability of vaccinators throughout south Gwynedd.

“Local GPs and surgery staff are working heroically to get vaccinations to high priority people.

"Betsi managers need to ensure that rurality and demographics are factored into their planning to back up surgeries.”

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has its plans to setup seven vaccination centres in Dwyfor and Meirionnydd, but the public are being urged not to turn up without an invitation.

Centres will be set up in Nefyn, Pwllheli, Porthmadog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Dolgellau, Tywyn and Bala as well as a mass vaccination centre at Ysbyty Enfys Bangor.