Wales will become the first UK nation to have offered a first Covid-19 jab to over-50s and at-risk adults with long-term health conditions, the Welsh government has said.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said everyone in the top nine priority groups would be offered a first jab by Sunday, 4 April.
Mark Drakeford said: “This is a truly remarkable effort and is down to the hard work of thousands of people who are working tirelessly on the NHS front line across Wales to make this happen,” he said.
“I want to thank each and every one of them.
“And it is because of those efforts that I am able to say today that we will meet our next vaccine milestone early.
“By Sunday we will have offered a vaccine to everyone in the first nine priority groups – that’s everyone over 50; all adults with an underlying health condition and a great many unpaid carers.
“By Sunday, a minimum of 75% of those in each priority group will have received a first vaccination.”
Health officials have warned they will receive less vaccine in April than they had originally planned for, because of significant delays to the UK’s COVID vaccine supply. Despite this setback, they still remain on course to meet the Welsh Government’s target of offering a first dose of the vaccine to everyone by the end of July.
Nearly 200 patients failed to keep their vaccination appointment at Ysbyty Enfys, Bangor last weekend, but slots were filled at short notice and no vaccines were wasted.
People in their 40’s are now being called in for their vaccination, in order to fill the Ysbyty Enfys capacity of 1,000 vaccines a-day over the next week. Some of the Surgeries and the Health Board admin team are calling patients in, working down from those aged 49 years of age.
Those in their 40’s, who don’t receive a phone call, should receive their appointment letters within the next 2-4 weeks.
