The Welsh Government has insisted it is “not holding back” doses of the coronavirus vaccines, following criticism that the roll-out in Wales so far had been too slow.

Giving today's press briefing, Education Minister Kirsty Williams said the vaccines were being distributed “in a careful way”, in order to maintain efficiency and minimise wastage.

“We are not holding back on any supplies of the Pfizer vaccine or the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine”, she said.

“We are distributing Pfizer in a careful way to ensure there is infrastructure in Wales to deliver it safely and most efficiently, avoiding wastage because it is such a precious resource."

Ms Williams also said that roll-out had expanded significantly within the past week, and distribution of the vaccines that have so far been made available had been a success.

“Last week, if I was stood here we would have been talking about 22 mass vaccination centres that are delivering Pfizer.

“By the end of this week we will have 45 mass vaccination centres delivering Pfizer, and 95 per cent of our stocks of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine have already been administered.

“All of our vaccinators who are working in our vaccination centres, increasingly working out of GP surgeries and other aspects of primary care, are working flat out, as is the Welsh Government, to speed up the vaccination programme." You can follow an interesting story here. : slotxo