Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies has welcomed today’s news that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for use in the UK.

The UK has ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine - enough to vaccinate 50 million people

 Its rollout in Wales will begin next week.

Commenting, James said:

“To receive this incredible news at the end of what has been a difficult year for us all is absolutely fantastic. It will enable us all to enter the 2021 with fresh hope for better times.

“This second approved vaccine has been developed by UK scientists, is being manufactured in Oxfordshire and Staffordshire, and being put into vials here in North Wales. The MHRA has verified that it has met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.

“The UK Government invested over £88 million into the development of the vaccine and is making sure it is made available for free across the UK on an equitable basis. It will play a major role in turning the tide of the pandemic, ensuring that more people can be protected from a virus which has dominated all our lives for so long.

“With Wales currently lagging behind in administering the Pfizer vaccine, it is absolutely crucial that the Welsh Government steps up to mark now to ensure that both vaccines are rolled out across Wales at speed. I will be closely scrutinising this, as well as the fair provision of supplies to North Wales from within the Welsh allocation.”