Public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally has said he believes a vaccine will 'turn the corner for the country.'
The plan to nationally roll out the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will be discussed by Cabinet today.
This follows a high-level COVID-19 taskforce reported to Government last Friday that will be published following today's Cabinet meeting.
According to the report, there will be five places it will be possible to get a vaccine.
Cabinet signed off on a plan to place nursing home staff and residents at the top of the queue for the vaccine last week. Following this will be frontline health workers.
Later next year, large scale vaccine sites will be set up in a similar manner to how large testing centres were put together.
Finally, in later stages, the vaccinations will be available from GPs and pharmacists.
"It looks good to me, it's very exciting I think," Public health expert Dr Scally told Newstalk Breakfast.
"I am optimistic about it. I was terribly impressed by the way in which the testing was rolled out so rapidly at the beginning of the pandemic.
"When it really started getting going it was very innovative, very fast, very responsive – I thought it was great.
"I have a lot of confidence that this will absolutely turn the corner for the country."
Dr Scally added that it is "difficult to say" when certain groups will be vaccinated, citing the complexities at play.
"There are a number of vaccines that may well be used and they all differ in terms of their requirements," he said.
"It will take time. I think it's good to have a whole range of different approaches for different groups in society and different times. It sounds to me like a very comprehensive plan."
Speaking on Monday, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said Ireland was 'on the cusp' of deploying 'at least two' vaccines as part of a national vaccination programme.
This, he said, is pending authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
While Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said the vaccine would be offered free of charge to everyone in Ireland.
"A key part of the roll-out will be ensuring that those most vulnerable to COVID-19 receive vaccinations first," he said.
"Given the country’s experience with COVID-19 to date and the risks that vulnerable people and those in frontline roles in the health and social care services continue to face, it is only right that they are prioritised in the allocation of vaccines.
"The Government has followed the advice from our leading medical experts."
Photo by Lev Radin/Sipa USA
