THE first Covid-19 vaccine began its roll-out across Wales on Tuesday, December 8.

Wales was the first country in the world to receive supplies of the vaccine last week, and became one of the first to begin protecting people against coronavirus.

The Welsh Government and NHS have been preparing since June.

The start of the vaccination programme came just days after the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the first Covid-19 vaccine for use in the UK, confirming its safety and effectiveness for mass vaccination centre use, based on a detailed independent expert review of the results of large scale clinical trials.

Some 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be available across the UK, with Wales getting its allocation based on its population.

In the first wave of vaccine deliveries, Wales will receive almost 40,000 doses, enough for nearly 20,000 people.

All health boards will start administering vaccines to care home staff, those over 80 years and frontline health and social care workers most at risk – more than 6000 doses will be given by the end of this week.

Despite the specific storage and preparation challenges posed by the vaccine, work continues to ensure a safe deployment of effective vaccine to care home residents.

First minister, Mark Drakeford said: “Last week, Wales was the first country in the world to receive supplies of the Covid-19 vaccine.

"I’m very proud Wales has become one of the first countries in the world to begin the roll-out of the vaccine to its population.

“2020 has been a very difficult year for all of us.

"This vaccine is a small glimmer of light at the end of what has been a long and dark tunnel.

“But the fact we have a vaccine does not mean we can stop doing those things that keep us safe.

"We must all continue to do our bit to prevent the spread of coronavirus: regular hand washing, social distancing, and wearing a face covering where required to protect yourself and others.”

Health minister, Vaughan Gething said: “Vaccines can take many years, even decades, to develop.

"The fact that a safe and effective vaccine has been developed in less than year is a remarkable tribute to all scientists and researchers around the world who have worked so hard to find a vaccine for Covid-19.

“We have been working really hard to plan for its arrival.

"Today (December 8), the first people in Wales will receive the vaccine.

"This is the positive news we have all been waiting for.

“We will now do everything we can to ensure we successfully deliver the Covid-19 vaccine across Wales in the days, weeks and months ahead.”

Meanwhile, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has been working in partnership with the Vale of Glamorgan Council and Cardiff Council to identify centres to deliver the Covid-19 vaccinations.

The mass vaccination centres will be set up in the Holm View Leisure Centre in Gibbonsdown, Barry; Cardiff and Vale Therapy Centre in Splott; and Pentwyn Leisure Centre in Cardiff.

The centres can be accessed by appointment only and those that are eligible to receive the vaccination will be sent a letter to contact the booking line to receive an appointment. All centres have adequate car parking and public transport access to meet the service need.

This is an exciting development in the NHS fight against Covid-19 with access to a vaccination imminent.

The UHB has been working closely with partners to prepare for the vaccination including recruitment of staff, implementation of IT and digital solutions to manage the programme and storage and delivery of the vaccination to ensure the health board is able to mobilise quickly.

Approximately 265,000 people across Cardiff and Vale UHB will be eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination, as set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) with the mass vaccination programme estimated to take nine-12 months to be delivered.

Priority groups will be identified by JCVI and contacted to book an appointment when the centres are ready to receive them with health and social care workers and care homes identified as the first priority groups.

The centre in Splott will be used first and is will be ready to deliver the vaccine from December.

The centres in Barry and Pentwyn are not likely to be stood up until January in line with vaccination quantities expected through the UK government.

Executive director of Public Health at Cardiff and Vale UHB, Fiona Kinghorn said “Covid-19 has been a big part of our lives over the last year and this is promising news that we are now in a position to deliver a vaccination when it becomes available.

“A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes to identify suitable venues, recruit staff, set up a booking line and implement processes for the storage and transportation of the vaccination to get us ready to protect the population of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

“While the vaccination programme will take time it is important that we all still adhere to the Welsh Government and Public Health Wales guidance and ensure we are social distancing, washing our hands regularly and wearing face coverings in public places to limit the spread of the virus.”

For information on the vaccination, visit the Public Health Wales website