THE Welsh Conservative candidate for the 2021 Vale of Clwyd Senedd Elections has received his first Covid-19 vaccine.

Cllr Gareth Davies, member of both Prestatyn town council and Denbighshire county council, was given his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine; the former mental health support worker who now works in physiotherapy has worked for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) for 11 years.

Cllr Davies said: "I think it is vital that staff and patients are protected from the virus and I was glad to take part in the vaccine rollout.

"I was surprised at the ease of vaccine and I likened it to the flu vaccine which was quick, easy, and over in seconds.

"I'd like to thank the hardworking NHS staff and volunteers for their help and dedication in making sure the vaccine is rolled out across the area as soon as possible and hope that the Welsh Government can properly facilitate the health board's ambitions in protecting North Wales against the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic."

On January 14, Teresa Owen, executive director of Public Health, said over two days, at the Mass Vaccination Centre at Ysbyty Enfys Bangor, 16 out of 774 people (2 per cent) failed to turn up for their vaccination appointment.

She added: "We have not experienced a significant problem with people failing to attend their vaccination appointments. Because we operate a stand-by list for our priority groups, we have experienced minimal wastage as a result of the very small number of missed appointments.

"It’s very important that people make every effort to keep their vaccination appointment."