The United Kingdom will start launching the vaccine against coronavirus produced by Moderna on Wednesday, becoming the third vaccine in circulation in the country.
The Welsh government has said the vaccine will first be distributed in West Wales and that 5,000 doses will be sent to vaccination centers in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.
“This is another key step in our fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. A third vaccine for use in Wales is a significant addition to our defense against coronavirus and will help protect the most vulnerable, ”Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething said in a statement.
“Every vaccine given to someone in Wales is a small victory against the virus and we would encourage everyone to go for their vaccine when invited.”
The UK already distributes vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca. The launch of the Moderna vaccine takes place about two weeks earlier than expected.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he hopes to fully reopen the British economy on June 21, pending the successful distribution of vaccines.
The government said on Tuesday that three out of five adults in the UK had received at least one dose. However, Johnson has had to quell concerns about the AstraZeneca shooting while the UK drug regulator is investigating cases of adult blood clots.