Your local MP Stephen Doughty writes about the news of the coronavirus vaccine in recent weeks, his thoughts on "holiday hunger", and looks ahead to Christmas and New Year.

"WE have had very good and welcome news on the approval of the first vaccine for Covid-19, and deployment has begun in priority order.

But it is crucial that people continue to follow the Welsh Government’s advice and restrictions (https://gov.wales/coronavirusregulations-guidance) - especially as we head towards Christmas - as it will be some months before we see the impact of the vaccine.

As Welsh Government health minister and my constituency colleague Vaughan Gething said this week, we are seeing a hugely worrying rise in cases again.

It is crucial we all comply with the rules - otherwise we risk seeing further restrictions having to be imposed to save lives and protect the NHS.

In relation to the vaccine, you will be invited to attend for an appointment - please don’t ask your GP or pharmacist.

Individuals in priority groups will receive an invitation from their employer or health board providing information, telling them where to go and what to do for their appointment.

Find out more here: https://gov. wales/written-statement-covid19-vaccine-launch-wales In the Commons last week, it was good to be able to praise the work of all those who have been preparing for the vaccine roll-out.

I said: “As well as paying tribute to the scientists, I pay tribute to all the teams in our local health boards who are preparing to deliver the vaccine - particularly the team at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board - and the Armed Forces who have been involved in the process. They have done an incredible job over the past few weeks to be ready for delivery.

“The secretary of state said, crucially, that this is a UK-wide effort; will he give a cast-iron guarantee that not only this tranche of vaccines but future tranches will be available on a completely equitable basis throughout the UK, so that we can bear down on this virus in every part of our country?”

It was good to get a guarantee on that from the secretary of state. I also spoke this week on the worrying reversal in progress tackling global hunger and famine.

With so many struggling to access basic food needs at home and abroad, we’ve seen an extraordinary lack of compassion from this Tory government in the run-up to Christmas by failing to tackle holiday hunger in England at the same time as slashing our humanitarian relief while millions face famine.

It’s time for a Christmas U-turn on both."