Welsh Conservatives have reacted to the latest set of Covid-19 vaccination figures published today (January 7) and while welcoming that some 48,404 people in Wales have received the inoculation, warn that signs of a postcode lottery are emerging.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) was the worst-performing board with just 0.81 percent (815 people per 100,000) vaccinated. By comparison, 3.05 percent of those resident in the Powys Teaching Health Board (3,048 per 100,000) and 2.05 percent of those in the Hywel Dda area (2,052 per 100,000) have been.

Andrew RT Davies MS, the Shadow Health Minister, said: “Of course we welcome the increase in the number of vaccinations, but the rough calculation is that one in 65 people in Wales has had their jab compared to one in 50 in England.

“Factor in the postcode lottery emerging in Wales, and the picture’s not looking great. You’re twice as likely in South Wales to have had the vaccination and three times more likely to have had it in Mid Wales than in North Wales.

“We are renewing our call for the First Minister to establish the post of Vaccinations Minister as a priority to take overarching control of the rollout of this life-saving programme here and to publish targets for the vaccination programme and a daily tally of those that have had the vaccine.

“Publishing these numbers will increase transparency and give the public confidence that progress is being made in our fight against Covid-19.”