A wnaiff y Gweinidog nodi faint o gyflenwyr sydd ar gyfer pob brechlyn ar a) yr amserlen imiwneiddio arferol a b) yr amserlen imiwneiddio teithio a argymhellir yng Nghymru?
Vaccine development and production is a lengthy, complex and expensive process. The number of companies manufacturing vaccines is therefore limited and they tend to operate globally. Only vaccines licensed in the UK are available for purchase. For some vaccines eg MMR there is more than one supplier but for others such as Meningitis B there is only a single licensed product worldwide. Every vaccine has different characteristics which will make it more or less suitable for use in NHS programmes.
All immunisation programmes in Wales are based on independent expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI recommends the use of vaccines which are cost effective and which will provide the maximum population protection.
To benefit from economies of scale, the majority of vaccines used in routine programmes are procured centrally at the UK level. Due to the required volumes, vaccine supply contracts are awarded to one or more suppliers for a specific period of time, usually three or four years, following competitive tendering or negotiation depending on the number of appropriate suppliers. It is rarely possible to purchase sufficient supplies ‘off-the-shelf”. Buffer stocks are held to mitigate against potential shortages due to supply interruptions. The vaccines currently used in routine national programmes can be found in the schedule published on the NHS Direct web site at: https://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/pdfs/Scheduleadult.pdf
Other vaccines, including most influenza vaccines and those for ‘non routine’ or travel purposes, are purchased directly from suppliers by health boards or general practices as required.
A list of influenza vaccine suppliers for the coming season can be found on page 16 at:
The Chief Medical officer issues guidance each season on the most effective influenza vaccines available based on the JCVI’s advice. The guidance for 2019-20 can be found in Welsh Health Circulars (2018)045 and (2019)002 at:
https://gweddill.gov.wales/topics/health/nhswales/circulars/public-health/?lang=en.
Advice on the availability of other vaccines, including those for ‘non-routine’ or travel purposes, is provided at the UK level by Public Health England. Should there be a shortage of a particular vaccine, as happened worldwide in 2017 with hepatitis B vaccine, the Welsh Government will issue guidance to NHS Wales on prioritisation of the available supplies. Supply information is provided regularly in ‘Vaccine Update’ at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/vaccine-update
The reasons for ‘vaccine hesitancy’ are varied and can relate to vaccine safety, religious or cultural concerns, complacency about the seriousness of the disease, potential side effects or vaccination accessibility. All these can be exacerbated by misinformation on social media. I welcome recent announcements by some social media companies to remove inaccurate or misleading sites from their platforms.
The vast majority of parents, however, are still choosing to have their children vaccinated automatically at the scheduled age. Immunisation uptake rates in Wales remain at the top of international benchmarks. A recent parental attitudinal study carried out in 2018 by Public Health England showed that confidence in immunisation is high with only 9% of parents identifying any concerns about having their child vaccinated. A much higher level of trust was indicated in information provided by the NHS and health professionals (92%) than from social media (36%).
There is no single intervention strategy that addresses all instances of vaccine hesitancy. It is important that we continue to offer ‘catch up’ opportunities for those children who have not been vaccinated at the scheduled age. Research and practice show that the opportunity to discuss vaccine concerns with a health care professional can be the decisive factor for parents who have changed their minds about previously rejected or delayed vaccines. The Welsh Government will continue to support health boards and Public Health Wales to ensure immunisation information is accurate and accessible and that all those delivering immunisations are well trained and confident when providing immunisation information.