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rhifyn 1165 issue 1165
15 Chwefror 2021 15 February 2021
gair rhydd Cardiff University’s student paper | Established 1972
Inside: The incredible figures associated with the LGBT+ community in Wales (page 22)
Vaccine supply in Wales to drop due to closures Tirion Davies
Editor-in-Chief
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accine supplies across Wales are set to drop in the next few weeks due to the temporary closure of four vaccination centres, says First Minister Mark Drakeford. Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board has announced they will stop vaccinations at four of its vaccination centres for a minimum period of a fortnight. Politicians have speculated this is because of a fall in the supply of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in Wales. It is said that other vaccination centres across Wales are also due to reduce their hours, though information has not yet been released as to which centres these may be. In an address, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford noted that the drop in supply from Pfizer/ BioNTech was expected, and that the Welsh Government has already worked with the NHS in Wales to accommodate. The Welsh Government confirmed that this reduction in supply is not exclusive to Wales, and that vaccination centres across the UK will be affected by this news. After receiving backlash at the beginning of the vaccination process for being too slow, Wales has become the first UK nation to have given a first dose to 20 percent of the population, as reported by Public Health Wales. Wales is currently on-course to meet its mid-February target of offering all over-70s the vaccine, as well as care workers and the clinically extremely vulnerable. Mark Drakeford told a Senedd committee, “We know that we are going to get less vaccine over the next few weeks than we have over the past few weeks. “That was planned for and known for and is accommodated in our plans which remain to complete the vaccination of those next five priority groups by the Spring." Officials have stated they are also anticipating fewer doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which have been predominantly delivered in GP services, as opposed to vaccination
centres. There is a hope that the level of AstraZeneca vaccines will return to recent levels around the beginning of March. It is up to health boards across Wales to determine how the vaccine will be delivered over the coming weeks, although many mass-vaccination services have already noted they are likely to change their opening times to reflect the reduction in supply. It is noted, however, that officials have significant stocks of the Pfizer vaccine to be able to significantly increase the number of second doses administered. Those who initially had their first dose of the vaccine in December are now due to receive a second dose in the coming weeks. Health officials have claimed the reduction in supply over the next two weeks was planned, so that manufacturers are able to ramp up the vaccination process and increase the number of vaccines available going into March. The delivery of 103,000 additional doses are expected this week, able to push the second doses of those who are due to complete their vaccinations. It is reported that 108,000 is expected to be given out next week, although numbers will then begin to rise in coming weeks from 160,000 to 190,000 as expected. It was also announced by the BBC on February 10 that Wales was seeing “Encouraging signs” that COVID-19 cases in the nation were beginning to fall. Chief Executive of NHS Wales, Andrew Goodall, said at the time that rates of the virus in the community were “significantly down” from where they had previously been in December. Over a similar period, it was reported by Public Health Wales that the number of hospital patients with COVID-19 had fallen by around a quarter. The Office for National Statistics figures indicated on the week ending February 7, Wales was experiencing a second week of falling death rates, although noted positive COVID-19 cases remained reasonably high at the same period. The Welsh Government insists if you are called for a vaccine, you should continue to go to your appointment.
COVID-19 vaccine goal: Care homes across Wales have reached their vaccination goal. 19.9 percent of the Welsh population has now been vaccinated. Source: truthseeker08 (via Pixabay)
Care homes reach vaccination goal Sam Portillo News Editor
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s Wales continues with the vaccine rollout, it has been noted that 82.1 percent of care home workers have received at least one vaccine dose, and Wales has reportedly reached its vaccine goals. Wales is on track to complete its mid-February goal of offering the
vacinnes to all care workers, the clinically extremely vulnerable and the over-70s. Another priority group that has seen the vaccine is healthcare workers. 112,763 of them so far have had the first dose of the vaccine. Betsi Cadwaladr care home was the first selected to receive the vaccine, and with the help of additional health boards took the vaccine to various care homes in Cardiff. Due to the recent influx of vac-
Royal Family's alleged Pryder brechlyn Rhydychen-AstraZeneca obstruction of laws Hallum Cowell Head of Politics
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recent investigation by The Guardian has revealed that the Queen and the Prince of Wales have used the law of Queen's Consent to lobby and change laws before they are presented to Parliament for vote. Through their investigation, the journalists have compiled a list of over a thousand laws which the Queen has seen including laws regarding the NHS, Brexit and wealth disclosure. What does this mean for Wales and what has the Royal Family said in response? To read more about the allegations made by The Guardian against the Royal Family, turn to page 10 10
Alaw Fflur Jones Golygydd Taf-od
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rechlyn Rhydychen-AstraZeneca yw’r brechlyn y mae llawer o bobl yn y Deyrnas Unedig yn ei dderbyn er mwyn eu hamddiffyn o’r coronafeirws. Ac felly, mae’r newyddion diweddaraf am effaith gyfyngedig brechlyn Rhydychen-AstraZeneca yn erbyn amrywiolyn De Affrig o’r coronafeirws wedi achosi cryn bryder yn y DU. Cyhoeddwyd y newyddion ychydig ddyddiau ar ôl i wyddonwyr rybuddio y gallai’r amrywiolyn fod yn cylchredeg yn y DU. I ddarllen yn fwy am yr hyn ein bod yn gwybod hyd yn hyn am y brechlyn Rhydychen-AstraZeneca, trowch i dudalen 6. 6
cinations at care homes, 19.9 percent of the Welsh population are now vaccinated, according to Public Health Wales and the Office of National Statistics. Wales have set an aim to ensure under 750,000 people including health workers and people aged over 70 get the first dose by mid-February. To read more about Welsh care homes reaching their vaccination goal, turn to page 3. 3
The story of Tiger Bay FC Tirion Davies
Editor-in-Chief
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iger Bay FC is not a football club too many of us would be familiar with. Although, for the Butetown community of Tiger Bay, Saturdays allowed this ground to become the heart of the community, with Tiger Bay FC playing match after match to its loyal supporters. For many, it is a place of safety and fun, and a way to escape when the world seems a little dark. As a community which is closer than arguably most in South Wales and Cardiff, the residents of Tiger Bay flock to the stands at Canal Park. To read more about Tiger Bay FC, turn to page 22. 22