Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
The Chief Medical Officer for Wales has indicated that following a comprehensive review of evidence with regard to susceptibility to Covid\-19 infection, children and young people are no longer considered clinically extremely vulnerable with respect to that, and are to be removed from the shielding patient list.


The decision to remove children and young people from the shielding patient list has come as a result of studies commissioned by the UK Government into the effects of Covid\-19 infection on children and young people. These studies found that children and young people, including those originally considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable to the disease, are at very low risk of becoming seriously unwell or dying from infection with the virus. This information was subsequently discussed at a UK expert medical panel who recommended that all children and young people should no longer be considered clinically extremely vulnerable to Covid\-19 and therefore be removed from the shielding patient list. This recommendation was agreed by the Chief Medical Officers of the UK.


We have been aware for some time that the risk to children of serious illness or death is extremely low. We have been working with our health boards since last summer to implement the advice of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, who suggested that very few children needed to shield. This new advice will mean the removal of the approx. 2,700 children and young people who remain on the list in Wales.


This change is separate to the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation(JCVI) and so the vaccination of some children aged 12\-15 with specific health conditions or who live with individuals (adults or children) who are immunosuppressed, will continue, in line with advice that immunisation may be of benefit to certain groups.


In his letter issued in July, the Chief Medical Officer for Wales indicated that the shielding patient list was being reviewed and committed to write to those who were affected by any change. He will therefore shortly be writing to all children and young people on the list to explain that, as a group, they are no longer considered clinically extremely vulnerable to the effects of infection with Covid\-19\. Whilst it is good news that children and young people are no longer considered clinically extremely vulnerable to the virus, the letter will continue to advise that this group, similarly to everyone in Wales, should continue to do all they can to minimise the risk of contracting the virus. This is because there are other impacts of Covid\-19 that we are still learning about, including long Covid.


Whilst all children and young people are being removed from the shielding patient list, there remains a small number in this group who may have been advised by their own specialists to isolate or reduce their social contact because of their medical condition or treatment. Where this is the case, children and young people are advised to continue to follow the advice of their own clinician.


This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do that.


 







Translation:


 
Yn dilyn adolygiad cynhwysfawr o dystiolaeth mewn perthynas â thueddiad grwpiau penodol o ddal COVID\-19, mae Prif Swyddog Meddygol Cymru wedi dweud nad yw plant a phobl ifanc yn cael eu hystyried yn eithriadol o agored i niwed yn glinigol mwyach yn y cyd\-destun hwn, a’u bod yn mynd i gael eu tynnu oddi ar y rhestr gwarchod cleifion.


Cafodd y penderfyniad i dynnu plant a phobl ifanc oddi ar y rhestr gwarchod cleifion ei wneud o ganlyniad i astudiaethau a gomisiynwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU o effaith haint COVID\-19 ar blant a phobl ifanc. Daeth yr astudiaethau hyn i’r casgliad bod y perygl i blant a phobl ifanc, gan gynnwys y rheini yr ystyriwyd yn wreiddiol eu bod yn eithriadol o agored i niwed yn glinigol gan y clefyd, o gael salwch difrifol neu farw pe baent yn cael eu heintio gan y feirws yn isel iawn. Cafodd yr wybodaeth hon ei thrafod wedi hynny gan banel o arbenigwyr meddygol yn y DU a argymhellodd na ddylid ystyried mwyach fod plant a phobl ifanc yn eithriadol o agored i niwed o COVID\-19 ac y dylid eu tynnu felly oddi ar y rhestr gwarchod cleifion. Cytunwyd ar yr argymhelliad hwn gan holl Brif Swyddogion Meddygol y DU.


Rydym wedi bod yn ymwybodol ers amser bellach fod y perygl i blant a phobl ifanc o gael salwch difrifol neu o farw yn isel iawn. Rydym wedi bod yn gweithio gyda’n byrddau iechyd ers yr haf y llynedd i weithredu cyngor y Coleg Brenhinol Pediatreg ac Iechyd Plant, a awgrymodd mai ychydig iawn o blant yn unig ddylai warchod eu hunain. Bydd y cyngor newydd hwn yn golygu dileu’r oddeutu 2,700 o blant a phobl ifanc sy’n dal i fod ar y rhestr yng Nghymru.


Mae’r newid hwn yn fater ar wahân i gyngor y Cyd\-bwyllgor ar Imiwneiddio a Brechu (JCVI), a byddwn yn parhau felly i frechu rhai plant 12\-15 oed sydd â chyflyrau iechyd penodol neu sy’n byw gydag unigolion (oedolion neu blant) sydd â systemau imiwnedd gwan, yn unol â’r cyngor y gallai fod o fudd i rai grwpiau gael eu brechu.


Dywedodd Prif Swyddog Meddygol Cymru, yn y llythyr a gyhoeddwyd ganddo ym mis Gorffennaf, fod y rhestr gwarchod cleifion yn cael ei hadolygu ac ymrwymodd i ysgrifennu at y sawl a oedd yn cael eu heffeithio gan unrhyw newid. Felly, gyda hyn, bydd yn ysgrifennu at yr holl blant a phobl ifanc sydd ar y rhestr i egluro, fel grŵp, nad ydynt yn cael eu hystyried yn eithriadol o agored i niwed gan effeithiau’r haint COVID\-19 mwyach. Yn ddi\-os, mae’r ffaith nad yw plant a phobl ifanc yn cael eu hystyried yn eithriadol o agored i niwed gan y feirws mwyach yn newyddion da. Fodd bynnag, bydd y llythyr hefyd yn dal i gynghori’r grŵp hwn y dylent barhau i wneud popeth posibl i leihau’r perygl o ddal y feirws, fel y dylai pawb arall yng Nghymru. Rhoddir y cyngor hwn oherwydd bod effeithiau eraill gan COVID\-19 yr ydym yn dal i ddysgu amdanynt, gan gynnwys COVID hir.


Er bod pob plentyn a pherson ifanc yn cael ei dynnu oddi ar y rhestr gwarchod cleifion, ceir nifer bach yn y grŵp hwn o hyd a allai fod wedi’u cynghori gan eu harbenigwyr eu hunain i ynysu neu i leihau eu cysylltiadau cymdeithasol oherwydd eu cyflwr meddygol neu’r driniaeth y maent yn ei derbyn. Mewn achosion o’r fath, cynghorir plant a phobl ifanc i barhau i ddilyn cyngor eu clinigydd eu hunain.


Caiff y datganiad hwn ei gyhoeddi yn ystod y toriad er mwyn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i’r Aelodau. Os bydd yr Aelodau eisiau imi wneud datganiad pellach neu ateb cwestiynau ynglŷn â hyn pan fydd y Senedd yn dychwelyd, byddwn yn hapus i wneud hynny.