Covid: First minister 'relieved' after wife and mother-in-law vaccinated

First Minister Mark Drakeford is still waiting for an appointment to be vaccinated

First Minister Mark Drakeford has spoken of his "relief" after both his wife and mother-in-law received coronavirus vaccinations.

The Welsh Labour leader said he was now the only one in his household yet to receive the jab.

He said he was "hugely grateful" both women had received their first doses.

His wife, Clare Drakeford, 66, and her 94-year-old mother, have both shielded during the pandemic due to their health conditions.

This meant Mr Drakeford spent some time living alone in a hut at the bottom of his garden.

The first minister previously said both women contracted the virus and fell ill last year.

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"Due to their conditions they are both in the top four priority groups and have both been vaccinated," Mr Drakeford said.

"Both experiences were excellent in terms of how smoothly it went and how well it was organised, and they've had no ill effects of any sort."

Mr Drakeford's wife and mother-in-law have both had their first doses of the vaccine

He said he was "hugely grateful, because they're both vulnerable".

"Although they've been incredibly careful and don't do anything that puts them at risk, the fact they've had the vaccine is a relief," he said.

"You can see how it gives people a different outlook, that they can see the light at the end of all of this."

Mr Drakeford, 66, said he would be in the next five priority groups but did not yet have an appointment to be vaccinated.

How many people in Wales have been vaccinated so far?

Nearly 590,000 people in the top priority groups have been given their first dose of Covid vaccine in Wales.

It means 18.7% of the Welsh population has now been vaccinated.

On Saturday, Wales overtook the other UK nations for the first time in the percentage of the population getting their first jab.

There was previously criticism the vaccination rollout in Wales had started more slowly than the rest of the UK.

Mr Drakeford said he believed the "unfairness" of that criticism led to a "we'll show them" spirit among those involved.

"People don't like it when they know the criticism isn't fair," he said.

"To judge the performance of a system on the first few days, was never going to be the right way to form a judgment."

Wales' aim is to ensure just under 750,000 people - including health workers and people aged over 70 - get a first dose by mid-February.