It could be the end of next year before we get back to life as we knew it, according to an infectious disease specialist.

The Government yesterday published its 15-phase priority plan for rolling out the vaccine as soon as it is approved.

The Health Minister has said the vaccine will be rolled out across the country “within days” of approval, with regulators expected to announce a decision by the end of the month.

On The Hard Shoulder, Stephen Donnelly said he expects to see a “graduated easing of restrictions as more and more people are vaccinated.”

Ciara Kelly doesn’t feel there is “any justification” for us to remain locked down once the vulnerable are vaccinated.@NTBreakfast pic.twitter.com/z4lVUV6eiA

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) December 8, 2020

Meanwhile, 215 more cases of COVID-19 were confirmed last night, with one further death.

University College Cork Professor of Applied Pathogen Ecology Gerry Killeen said Ireland is “in a much better place than an awful lot of countries in Europe” but warned that the country must work to stay ahead of the virus in 2021.

“It is very important that we hold on these gains and that maybe we think about consolidating them in the New Year because otherwise we are going to need rolling lockdowns for months and months and exactly how long, none of us really know,” he said.

“But it could easily be a year before we can all go back to the ‘old normal.’”

Ireland's national 14-day incidence rate now stands at 80.2 per 100,000 people.

Meanwhile nine counties reported less than five cases yesterday with three reporting none.

Mr Killeen the vaccine will not “change the rules of the game entirely overnight” and said Ireland must keep the figures as low as possible in the New Year.

“We are going to have to be smart and just remember that we have gained an awful lot and if we can hang on to it, if we could still be in the region of 200 or 300 cases a day after the Christmas season, that leaves us with options in the New Year.”

On Newstalk Breakfast yesterday, the Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said it is “too early” to say what effect the coronavirus vaccine will have on restrictions in the New Year.