One million doses of Covid vaccine given in Wales

One million doses of the Covid vaccine have been administered in Wales, as the country’s health minister moved to reassure people that “no-one will be left behind”.

Data published by Public Health Wales shows 916,336 people in Wales – more than 38 per cent of the adult population – have received a first dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford/AstraZeneca jab.

In addition, 89,053 people have received their second dose of the vaccine.

This means that, in total, 1,005,389 doses have been administered in Wales in the 12 weeks since the rollout of the country’s vaccination programme.

Health minister Vaughan Gething said: “One million doses delivered is a fantastic testament to the incredible hard work and efforts of all those involved in Wales’ vaccine rollout.

“To have reached such an incredible marker within just 12 weeks of the first vaccines arriving in the country should not be underestimated.

“Our vaccine programme continues at pace and, as long as supplies allow, we will vaccinate every adult by the end of July.

“I want to reassure people that no-one will be left behind – anyone who wants a vaccine will get one.”

On Wednesday, Mr Gething confirmed many unpaid carers, eligible disabled people and those with severe mental illness are part of priority group six – the current group being vaccinated.

He added that Wales aims to have offered vaccinations to every eligible adult by July 31, as long as vaccine supplies are maintained.

The data also shows 91.2 per cent of the over-80s have received their first dose, along with 93.4 per cent of those aged 75-79, 92.9 per cent of those aged 70-74 and 87.6 per cent of people classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.

More than 162,941 frontline health and social care staff in Wales have received their first dose of the vaccine.

Those who have received the vaccine are asked to follow the same rules as people who have not, such as wearing a mask, keeping a two-metre distance, washing their hands regularly and keeping rooms well-ventilated.

The Welsh Government urged people not to call their local health services for an appointment unless asked to do so or if they believe they should have been in the top four priority groups.

These are those aged over 70, people classed as clinically extremely vulnerable and frontline health and social care workers.