Wales’ Health Minister slams ‘hypocrisy’ of UK Gov mandating vaccines while PM doesn’t wear face mask in hospital

Wales’ Health Minister has blasted the Prime Minister for mandating vaccines for health workers in England’s NHS while not bothering to wear a mask when visiting a hospital.

Frontline NHS staff in England will have to be fully vaccinated against Covid, the UK Government is expected to announce today. A deadline will be set for next spring to give unvaccinated staff time to get both doses, Whitehall have said.

Eluned Morgan however said that no mandate would be introduced in Wales as 95% working in care homes and the NHS had the vaccine and that they were “content” with those levels.

Meanwhile, she criticised Boris Johnson for failing to wear a mask while meeting NHS staff and walking around the corridors of a hospital in Northumbria.

“It’s shocking that the Prime Minister is walking into a hospital without a mask while asking people who work there to have a vaccine,” she said.

“That is hypocrisy by the UKConservative Government.”

She added that Wales would not shorten the time before the second and booster jab to five months from six months as is happening in England.

“The JCVI are still advising that we stick to a six month interval,” she said.

Eluned Morgan said that NHS Wales was under “incredible” pressure and any further restrictions would depend on whether than pressure increased. She added that flu vaccine take-up was lower than last year and she was “disappointed” with that.

Turning to Christmas, she said that a last-minute lock-down like last year could be avoided if they took steps now.

“The JCVI say that if you’re going to act, act early,” she said. “That’s what the Covid passes are about. That’s what we’re trying to achieve here.”