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Welsh Government has published its targets and priorities as it looks to upscale the coronavirus vaccine rollout in Wales.
As the rollout is increased, all people aged 50 and above, and those considered extremely vulnerable, will be offered a vaccine by spring.
The new targets also aim to offer a vaccine to all residents and staff of care homes by the end of January, and frontline NHS workers by mid-February.
To date, 86,039 people have been vaccinated across Wales, with 79 people having received both doses.
It is hoped all eligible adults in Wales will be offered a coronavirus vaccine by the autumn.
The targets, divided into ‘Milestones’ and ‘Markers’ provide a set of goals by which the Welsh Government’s vaccination program can be judged against for the first time.
The Welsh Government has received criticism of the rate at which vaccines have been administered, with Wales having vaccinated fewer people per head of population than England and Scotland so far.
The new list of targets means people now know roughly when they should expect to be offered a vaccine for the first time.
Public Health Wales has also announced it will publish weekly data on vaccines through their Rapid Covid-19 Surveillance dashboard.
Vaccine rollout Q&A
When can I expect to receive my vaccine?
That depends on where you are listed on the priority list. If you are within the nine priority groups in the first phase, you should be offered a vaccine by spring.
How soon you are offered a vaccine between now and spring will depend on where you rank in the priority list.
If you are under the age of 50 and not classed as critically vulnerable, you may not be invited for a vaccine until autumn.
Where will I receive my vaccine?
That will depend on your individual circumstances.
The vaccination program is taking place in three settings: mass vaccination centres, GP surgeries and mobile vaccination hubs.
You will be informed of where you will receive your vaccine in a letter inviting you to be vaccinated.
Will I receive the Oxford or Pfizer vaccine?
This depends on availability of each vaccine. There are currently more Pfizer-BioNTech doses in supply than Oxford University/AstraZeneca. 26,000 doses of the Oxford vaccine and 40,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be administered across Wales this week.
As more of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine becomes available, it is expected to be the most widely administered vaccine in Wales.
Both vaccines will be given in two doses up to twelve weeks apart.
Why are the vaccines now being given twelve weeks apart?
In December, the four UK chief medical officers announced that the second doses of coronavirus vaccines should be given towards the end of 12 weeks rather than in the previously recommended 3-4 weeks.
The reason for the decision is to prioritise giving the first doses of vaccine to as many people as possible on the priority list in order to protect the greatest number of at-risk people in the shortest possible time.
I am a voluntary carer, does that change when I will receive the vaccine?
At the moment, no, but it is expected that people registered as carers will be given priority for vaccination in the future.
Neither Welsh Government nor Public Health Wales have confirmed when this may be.
I have not received my vaccine invitation yet. What should I do?
The advice from both Welsh Government and Public Health Wales is be patient.
If you are in one of the priority groups, you should expect to receive your letter by spring, depending on which group you are in.
You are not advised to ring your GP to ask when you will receive an invitation.
Hefin David, Senedd Member for Caerphilly, said: “These are welcome targets. It is always going to be a challenge to provide vaccinations to so many people.
“We’ve already seen much progress at the centre in Ystrad Mynach and as mobile services and GP deliveries are expanded further, that progress will be enhanced.
“I’ve raised individual cases with the health board to ensure that no one is left behind. I also welcome the running totals being provided as vital information.”
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