On Friday, we published an update to our national plan. While less than two months since we published the plan itself, a lot has happened with our programme. I want to reflect on progress and provide more information on our current and future priorities. In the updates, I confirmed that two key target dates have moved forward. The first is the target date for offering the vaccine to all those in the current priority groups—that's groups 5 to 9. I've said that our aim now is to do this by the middle of April. The bringing forward of some of our supply allocation now makes this possible. I've also confirmed that we plan to offer the vaccine to all eligible adults by the end of July instead of our original autumn deadline. As I've said all along, supply is the limiting factor. I have confidence in the pace and capacity of our delivery model and in the fantastic team of people who are doing the work. However, achieving these target dates remains subject to vaccine supply and the timeliness of that supply.

In the update, I've also confirmed our approach for phase 2 of our programme. As with the current phase, it will be on the basis of the advice of the independent, expert Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. Our approach in Wales is similar to all other UK countries and has the endorsement of the four chief medical officers from each UK nation. The JCVI has recommended continuing the roll-out on the basis of age. That is because age remains the most significant risk factor and because a model based on age will enable the fastest pace for the remaining vaccinations. In recommending an age-based approach, the JCVI noted the importance of other factors, specifically gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. We will take account of the need for clear, trusted and targeted information on these factors within our communications and deployment arrangements for phase 2.

Members will of course be aware there has been a lot of interest in prioritisation on the basis of occupation. Again, the JCVI did consider this. However, the independent, expert committee did not have sufficient evidence to persuade it to advise the four Governments of the UK to set specific occupations apart from the general population. It also commented on the operational complexity of such an approach, which would inevitably slow the pace of the roll-out.

We know that over half of key workers are aged over 40. Over half of our key workers will therefore either be offered vaccination as part of the current phase of the programme, or will be called for vaccination as part of the first priority group recommended by the JCVI for phase 2—those people aged between 40 and 49. I recognise there'll be some disappointment around this—those working in education, childcare and the police service, and in the transport sector, for example. I've also heard the case made for retail workers and postal workers, all of whom have worked through the height of the pandemic. But, put simply, the JCVI advise us that an age-based approach is the simplest, the quickest to operationalise and deliver, and the fairest approach to the population as a whole.

The update to our strategy also explained some of the emerging evidence on the effectiveness of vaccines. The research is very encouraging and really does give us greater cause for hope and positivity. But there is still a long way to go with our programme yet, with many, many more first and second doses to be delivered. We're very much on the right track, but there is a lot of work left to do. However, I hope that Members from all sides will recognise the fantastic achievement of our vaccination programme here in Wales to date. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer.