Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health and Social Services
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
Today I have published our national COVID-19 vaccination strategy. The strategy reflects months of detailed delivery planning and sets out our national strategy and priorities for the coming months.
The strategy sets out 3 key milestones:
- By mid-February – all care home residents and staff; frontline health and social care staff; everyone over 70 and everyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable will have been offered vaccination.
- By the Spring – vaccination will have been offered to all the other phase one priority groups. This is everyone over 50 and everyone who is at-risk because they have an underlying health condition.
- By the Autumn – vaccination will have been offered to all other eligible adults in Wales, in line with any guidance issued by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The milestones are predicated on sufficient supplies of vaccines being available. Whilst we have received assurances from the UK Government that supplies will be forthcoming, ultimately, this is a matter outside of the Welsh Government’s control.
We are in a very serious situation with the pandemic in Wales currently. The vaccine offers hope for the future but we still have a long journey ahead.
Over 86,000 people have already received their first dose of the vaccine in Wales. A significant number in just over a month. More and more people are receiving their vaccine every week and the pace will accelerate as more supply becomes available and our infrastructure builds.
From today we will begin publishing daily statistics. I will also start publishing more information weekly from next week so that the people of Wales have the latest information on the programme.