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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Lewis McKenzie PA & Victoria Jones

Government minister 'should be appointed to oversee the roll-out of a Covid-19 vaccine'

A government minister should given a role to oversee the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out.

That is the proposal proposal, put forward by Labour, which would see the creation of a "minister for the vaccine'.

The aim of the role would be to provide accountability and to avoid repeating mistakes made over PPE procurement and test and trace.

The ministerial role would also involve regular updates to Parliament on the progress of the vaccination programme.

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said that a "Herculean effort" is needed to achieve the roll-out of a vaccine across the country.

He said: "After months of sacrifice, people are looking forward with hope to a vaccine that will save lives and provide a route out of lockdown restrictions.

"But after the ministerial mistakes over the procurement of PPE and the £12 billion for the failing Test and Trace system, nobody wants yet more avoidable mishaps.

"Boris Johnson must reassure the country that ministers have the resources and plans in places to deliver the vaccination programme as promised.

"We need a Herculean effort to achieve the roll-out of a vaccine at a magnitude and scale unlike any we have ever seen before."

Mr Ashworth also urged ministers to provide the resources needed to ensure the smooth deployment of a vaccine.

He said: "Our NHS has gone above and beyond this year but is exhausted and overstretched.

"We can't limp into the next crucial period of our battle with coronavirus, the Government must urgently provide the resources necessary to ensure the speedy and smooth deployment of a vaccine.

"The necessary plans need to be in place now."

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