Wales ‘delivering vaccine at fastest rate in the UK’ says Health Minister

Wales’ Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, has said that Wales is now delivering the vaccine at the fastest rate among UK nations.

Wales just about pipped England for the first dose of vaccinations delivered per 100,000 people last week. Almost 10% of people in Wales have now received their first dose.

The Conservatives, however, said that the Welsh Government had missed their self-set vaccination target of vaccinating 70 per cent over the over-80s by the end of the weekend.

The Welsh Government said that there had been a delay in meeting that target because of snow.

“Team Wales in the last seven days delivered the Covid vaccine at the fastest rate among UK nations,” Vaughan Gething said.

“Our NHS Wales led vaccination programme is doing an incredible job.”

But Andrew RT Davies MS – the Welsh Conservative leader in the Welsh Parliament – said the situation would be farcical were lives not at stake.

“Welsh Conservatives would have been the first to congratulate the Welsh Government and its Health Minister had the target been reached on Friday, but that target has been missed,” he said. 

“It’s the same old Labour story of taking credit when things go well but look to blame anyone and everything else when it goes wrong.

“The First Minister and his Health Minister must take full responsibility for this failure, and should face up, shape up, and get the vaccine programme back on track by appointing a dedicated vaccines minister and setting a commitment they can reach.”