Calls for greater transport links to vaccination centres

Wales’ Health Minister Vaughan Gething has issued further guidance on transport to and from mass vaccination centres as calls for greater transport provision grow louder.

Caerphilly’s mass vaccination centre moved from Ty Penallta in Tredomen to Newbridge Leisure Centre last week.

Newbridge Leisure Centre has been chosen as the new venue for the county’s mass vaccination centre as it provides greater capacity than Ty Penallta.

Caerphilly County Borough Council has confirmed that Ty Penallta may reopen as a vaccination centre at some point, but for now it remains closed.

Despite 72 GP surgeries now providing vaccinations throughout the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB), many residents now face long journeys on public transport to receive their vaccinations.

Travel from Bedwas to Newbridge, for example, consists of two busses via Newport, totalling more than an hour’s travel time.

Speaking at Welsh Government’s coronavirus press briefing on Wednesday, February 3, Mr Gething confirmed many local authorities are working to reorganise bus routes around mass vaccination centres.

He also confirmed that providing a lift to people who need to get to vaccine centres counts as essential travel, but measures such as wearing face coverings and maintaining distance should be observed.

Hefin David, Senedd Member for Caerphilly, has called on the council to work with its transport partners to provide more transport links to the vaccination centre in Newbridge.  

Dr David told Caerphilly Observer: “The location of the Newbridge Centre is difficult to get to for those without their own transport, particularly for people living in places such as Gelligaer, Abertridwr, Senghenydd, Penyrheol, Nelson, Bedwas and Trethomas.

“I contacted the council when the centre opening was announced to ask that a special public transport system be provided direct to the centre for people in those communities and ones like them.

“The council agreed to look into this and work with their transport partners and the health board to find a solution. I’m awaiting further details from the council and I will continue to press for this.”

A council spokesman also confirmed talks are ongoing and added: “We are aware that some residents within the county borough may find it difficult to access the mass vaccination centre, so we are working with the health board to see if we are able to assist in this regard.”

The latest available data shows that 75,220 people had been vaccinated in the ABUHB area as of Monday, February 1.

The health board confirmed a further 43,000 vaccines are available this week.