Eluned Morgan, Minister for Health and Social Services
I am incredibly proud to confirm that all adults in Wales have been offered a COVID-19 vaccine; this offer is six weeks ahead of schedule. Over 3.6 million doses of the vaccine have been delivered in Wales.
Wales is leading the world when it comes to the percentage of our population who have been vaccinated; 87% of our adult population have had their first dose, and 54% have received their second dose to complete protection against COVID-19.
We are continuing to work towards achieving milestone 3 as set out in our Strategy. As well as offering the COVID-19 vaccine to all our eligible adult population, we are turning our focus to maximising vaccine coverage for all and to achieve at least 75% up take. If anyone thinks they have been missed, or has not yet received their offer of vaccination for whatever reason, you can find out who to contact here.
It is vitally important that we maintain the current high-levels of vaccine uptake to keep Wales safe; this is for both first and second doses. No one left behind is a key principle to our vaccination programme. I would like to remind everyone that the vaccine programme is open and available for all eligible adults in Wales and I strongly encourage you all to take up your offer of vaccination. This includes the second dose offer which is essential for longer term protection and Public Health England research shows two doses of vaccines offers strong protection against the Delta variant which we are continuing to closely monitor in Wales.
In line with the JCVI advice, we will be shortening the interval between first and second doses of vaccine for people at increased risk of contracting COVID-19, especially those living in areas where there are concerns about the Delta variant and in accordance with vaccine supplies. Health boards will oversee this work for their local populations area. We are aiming to offer all eligible adults two doses of vaccine by the end of September.
Today I will publish our COVID-19 vaccination programme weekly update. As always, I am extremely grateful to all our NHS colleagues and all the volunteers across Wales to make our progress in the vaccination programme possible.