Pharmacists will start to administer COVID-19 vaccines 'towards the end' of this month.
The HSE says 15 pharmacies will be involved in an initial trial within weeks, ahead of any wider rollout.
However, the impact of decisions and delays around the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson jabs - both of which can be more easily stored than the Pfizer and Moderna ones - may have an impact on the plans.
Limiting the AstraZeneca vaccine to over-60s is said to have had a "significant impact" on the vaccination programme, resulting in a "major reorganisation".
With the rollout of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine delayed in Europe, the European Medicines Agency is due to give a verdict on the safety of the vaccine later today.
The HSE says it's currently planning on the 'working assumption' there'll be no supplies of the one-shot vaccine.
However, they say their plans are agile and will be changed based on the latest medical guidance and supply updates.
The details come as part of a wider update on the vaccination rollout, released ahead of the HSE's appearance at an Oireachtas health committee hearing today.
Seven more mass vaccination centres are set to open this week, bringing the total in operation to 26.
The remaining 11 sites are expected to open over the coming weeks once there's 'the necessary supply and demand'.
The HSE has also released an updated timeline for the vaccination programme for the coming weeks.
It shows that workers key to the vaccination programme and adults at high risk of severe COVID-19 will be vaccinated starting early May.
🆕The HSE will tomorrow give the Oireachtas health committee an update on when the various cohorts will be vaccinated. pic.twitter.com/DaMh6XbfYe
— Eoghan Murphy (@eoghanymurphy) April 19, 2021
Vaccination of people aged 60-69 is getting underway from this week.
While vaccination has largely been GP focused to date, people now registering for a vaccine are likely to be vaccinated in a dedicated vaccination centre.
Everyone in the 60-69 cohort will get the AstraZeneca vaccine.
