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Covid vaccine: Doses 'down 250,000' in Wales in coming weeks

Reuters AstraZeneca vaccines (file pic)Reuters
Losing so many doses was bound to have an impact, the first minister said

Wales expects to have 250,000 fewer doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the coming weeks due to supplies disruption, Mark Drakeford has said.

The first minister said he hoped the top nine priority groups would still be offered the vaccine by mid-April.

Mr Drakeford told Newyddion S4C on Thursday those doses could not be lost "without it having some impact".

But he later insisted the supply problems "will not impact those who've received their appointment".

Clarifying the position in a tweet, he said: "The UK Government has assured us that this shouldn't impact our commitment to offer the first dose to the 9 priority groups by the middle of April and all other eligible adults by the end of July."

During his interview with the BBC for Newyddion S4C he had said that relatively small supplies of the Moderna vaccine would be coming at the beginning of April, and the authorities were looking at ways of bringing supplies of the Pfizer vaccine forward to make up for the loss of AstraZeneca jabs.

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Asked about any possible impact on the easing of lockdown, the first minister said the timetable was partly based on the vaccination programme bringing more protection.

However, he said he thought Wales was still on track for the stages announced so far and then they would have to see whether circumstances in the middle of April allowed for any further easing.

In the past week Wales has delivered more than 228,500 doses of vaccine as supplies have ramped up over the past couple of weeks.

Plaid Cymru called for "maximum transparency" on the matter.

'Very important'

Party health spokesman Rhun ap Iorwerth said: "I've called repeatedly for the publication of data on how many of each type of vaccine has been, and is being distributed to each UK nation.

"It's very important, not least in providing reassurance that there is sufficient supply for second doses to be distributed in a timely manner."

In England, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told MPs the vaccine supply delays will not affect people getting their second doses or the roadmap out of lockdown there.

The UK's supply has been affected by a delayed shipment from India, he said.