CONCERNS have been raised over whether North Wales is receiving a fair share of Covid-19 vaccines.

Darren Millar MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Covid-19 Recovery, has raised the issue after figures released by Public Health Wales showed the number of vaccines given in each health board area.

According to PHW, as of 10 days ago - 20 December - just 2,544 people living in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area had been vaccinated, compared to 4,264 in the Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board area, which has a smaller population.

Mr Millar said: “People in North Wales are concerned that they’re not getting their fair share of the vaccine.

“The most recent figures from Public Health Wales seem to demonstrate that people in Cardiff are more than two and a half times more likely to have been given the Covid vaccine than people in North Wales, and people in Powys are four times more likely to have been vaccinated. This is unacceptable and must be addressed.

“Given the approval of the new Oxford vaccine, which is manufactured in North Wales, the Welsh Government must now ramp up the rollout of immunisations, make sure that the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board gets its fair share of doses and ensure that those at highest risk of harm from Covid-19 are able to access their jabs as soon as possible.”

A table released by Mr Miller shows just 0.36 per cent of the population covered by Betsi Cadwaladr have received the first dose of the vaccine, compared to 0.95 per cent of the Cardiff and Vale health board area’s population.

Hywel Dda Health Board had vaccinated 0.73 per cent up to 20 December, whilst Powys Teaching Board had vaccinated 1.52 per cent.

Aneurin Bevan’s figure stood at 0.69 per cent, Cwm Taf Morgannwg at 0.77 and Swansea Bay, 0.71.

Due to data lags, the actual numbers of vaccinations given will be higher than reported.

Betsi Cadwaladr has been asked to comment.