The pandemic is not over.

We know that the best way to navigate through this pandemic, until we can turn Covid-19 into an endemic disease, is vaccination.

As I write latest Public Health Wales figures reported on November 7 state: two-thirds of care home residents, more than half of home workers and over two-thirds of those over 80 years old have received a booster vaccine. The Welsh Government have offered a Covid jab to all 12 to 15-year-olds, however, to date only 48.2 per cent of children in this age group have had it.

I would urge all residents in Islwyn, who are medically able to, to get vaccinated. It is the most important thing that we can do to keep ourselves and our communities safe.

I was concerned to read those pupils on free school meals in Wales got fewer top exam grades than their better off peers when exams were cancelled and results were assessed by teachers.

The pandemic has exacerbated the attainment gap between rich and poor.

As an educationalist and a socialist it is distressing but invariably true that those with the least suffer the most. The statistics from the exam regulator Qualifications Wales show that there is much to do.

Staff shortages, in the pandemic, will continue to pose difficulties but I am glad that face to face teaching has been restored across Wales.

Wales will be remembering the sacrifices made by the brave men and women of our armed forces this week.

Across Islwyn there will be a return to civic and community services of remembrance.

One such ceremony that I have been invited to is Maesycwmmer’s Service of Remembrance at the Community Garden, Old Age Pensioners Hall in Maesycwmmer. I am always struck by the dignified manner and the large number of people wanting to participate in such services of remembrance across Islwyn. We shall remember them.

I am proud to support a Welsh Labour Government that has set out to keep Wales safe during this terrible pandemic.

This week it was announced that two antiviral drugs to combat Covid-19 offer us a faster way through the pandemic.

In the UK Molnupiravir has been approved for use by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. While trials of Pfizer’s Paxlovid saw just 6 of 607 (1%) of people with Covid hospitalised and none died. The beginning of the end may be in sight.