Following an outcry, a Welsh government spokesperson insisted that it was on course to vaccinate all members of the top four priority groups by mid-February.
The spokesperson did not repeat Drakeford’s reasoning but said it was organising the distribution of the Pfizer vaccine in such a way as to avoid wastage.
“The Pfizer vaccine comes in large packs, which cannot be split and must be stored at ultra-low temperatures – at -70c. There are only two centres in Wales where we can keep them at this temperature. Once removed from storage, the vaccine lasts five-days. Every dose wasted is a vaccine which cannot be given to someone in Wales.
Health boards are receiving all the doses of Pfizer they can use.”