Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has asked what preventative measures the Welsh Government are taking to deal with the rising number of whooping cough cases.
Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Health, has called for a statement from the Health Minister, Eluned Morgan outlining her actions.
Speaking in the Senedd, he said:
Currently, we're experiencing a peak year for the infection, with some of the highest rates causing concern in babies under three months old, who are a particularly vulnerable group, and five of those babies have sadly died as a result of the infection so far this year.
Recent data published by the UK Health Security Agency showed over 1,300 cases confirmed in March alone, which is deeply concerning.
We know some of this cause is linked to fewer children receiving their vaccines. Indeed, around only 93% of children have received their six-in-one vaccinations up until now.
I think it would be important for this Senedd to receive an update from the Cabinet Secretary on whooping cough numbers and how the Welsh Government is working to bring down any increases in those numbers and make sure that preventative measures are in place in order to protect people, and in particular babies, here in Wales.
Sam Rowlands AS yn tynnu sylw at gynnydd mewn achosion o’r pas
Mae Sam Rowlands, Aelod o’r Senedd dros y Gogledd, wedi gofyn pa fesurau ataliol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu rhoi ar waith i ymdrin â'r cynnydd yn nifer yr achosion o’r pas.
Mae Mr Rowlands, Gweinidog Iechyd yr Wrthblaid, wedi galw am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd, Eluned Morgan yn amlinellu beth sydd am gael ei wneud.
Wrth siarad yn y Senedd, dywedodd:
Ar hyn o bryd, mae hi’n flwyddyn wael iawn o ran yr haint, gyda rhai o'r cyfraddau uchaf yn achosi pryder ymysg babanod dan dri mis oed, sy'n grŵp arbennig o agored i niwed, ac yn anffodus mae pump o'r babanod hynny wedi marw o ganlyniad i'r haint hyd yma eleni.
Dangosodd data diweddar a gyhoeddwyd gan Asiantaeth Diogelwch Iechyd y DU bod dros 1,300 o achosion wedi’u cadarnhau ym mis Mawrth yn unig, sy'n peri pryder mawr.
Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod rhywfaint o hyn yn gysylltiedig â llai o blant yn derbyn eu brechlynnau. Yn wir, dim ond 93% o blant sydd wedi derbyn eu brechiadau chwech mewn un hyd yma.
Rwy'n credu y byddai'n bwysig i'r Senedd hon dderbyn diweddariad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ar y niferoedd y pas a sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru’n gweithio i ostwng unrhyw gynnydd yn y niferoedd hynny a sicrhau bod mesurau ataliol ar waith er mwyn amddiffyn pobl, ac yn enwedig babanod, yma yng Nghymru.
