FIVE per cent of the Welsh population has already been vaccinated as doses are ‘not being held back’, said the health minister.

Vaughan Gething addressed the nation on January 20 with an update on the vaccination programme in Wales.

He said that ‘vaccination is the number one priority’ and ‘no vaccines are being held back’ as Welsh Government and the NHS are doing all they can to get vaccines out as fast as possible.

Latest figures show almost 176,000 people have had the first dose, and more than 10,000 people each day are getting the vaccine.

Mr Gething said five per cent of the population has now been vaccinated and ‘more people are getting it every day’.

He added they were ‘making good progress’ towards their first milestone of vaccinating the top four priority groups by mid-February.

The Health Minister said every week the programme is getting ‘faster’ as more clinics are opened and more vaccines become available.

He told the nation nine out of 10 vaccine centres are open seven days a week and GPs will also offer the vaccine on evenings and week days.

He went on the say they expect to receive almost double the Oxford vaccine as in the first fortnight which means more people can be vaccinated in primary settings.

Almost 1,000 care home residents are being vaccinated each day and seven people are being vaccinated every minute.

Mr Gething re-enforced the message ‘for the avoidance of any doubt’ that vaccines are not being ‘held back’ and there was a ‘small army’ of people working to ensure people are protected.

He added: “We remain in a race against the virus, but not with other countries.”

However he said the rate of vaccination is ‘well above’ other European countries.

Mr Gething said indication from UK Government is that they have enough supply of the vaccine for Wales to achieve their target by mid-February and if there is an increase in supply, the rate of vaccination will also increase.

When asked about comments made from the British Medical Association raising concerns about the vaccine rollout in Wales, the Health Minister said this was ‘old news’ adding they have clarified that they are not holding back the vaccine and this has never been the strategy.

He added they were getting vaccines out as quickly and safely as possible.

The Health Minister was also asked about supporting businesses and he said the country had the most ‘generous’ package of support in the UK and was important to note the pandemic is an economical crisis as well as a health crisis.

He confirmed they will continue to look at what they can do and if restrictions continue, they will look at money available.