18,000 register for vaccines through online portal by lunchtime

HSE CEO Paul Reid and Anne O’Connor, Chief Operations Officer, HSE at Dr Steevens’ Hospital for the weekly HSE operational update on the response to Covid-19. Picture: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

Some 18,000 people registered for vaccines through an online portal open to those aged 65 to 69 before lunchtime.

The new portal opened this morning and represents a significant step forward in the vaccine rollout process, health chiefs said.