COVID-19 vaccine registration will open for over 30s soon, the Health Minister has said.
No exact date has yet been given, although some officials have previously said they expect it to happen this week.
Stephen Donnelly today confirmed registration will open shortly for the next age cohort.
Currently, everyone over 40 is able to register for a vaccine appointment.
Over 300,000 vaccine doses are expected to be administered this week as the rollout continues.
Update on our COVID-19 vaccination programme pic.twitter.com/F4wymPfmTJ
— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) June 15, 2021
The latest figures from the HSE and Department of Health show 56% of all adults have now received at least one dose of a vaccine, while 25% are fully vaccinated.
The Government is unlikely to hit its target of 80% of all adults being offered a first dose by the end of June due to continuing supply issues with some vaccines.
However, the Taoiseach last week said the current goal is to have 70% of adults fully vaccinated by the end of next month.
NIAC is due to update its advice on mixing vaccines in the next two weeks, as it awaits further evidence to support the practice.
Professor of Immunology at Trinity College Dublin Kingston Mills, however, believes people who've been administered one shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine should receive the Pfizer jab in their second dose.
He said: "Anyone who has had a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine is not as protected as someone who has had a single or double dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
"To me, it makes complete sense to boost those who've had the AstraZeneca vaccine with an mRNA vaccine so they get the optimal vaccine."
It comes amid concerns about the Delta variant of the virus, with ministers today likely to sign off on new restrictions for those travelling to Ireland from Britain.
