Ireland on track to vaccinate 80% of adults by end of June, says Donnelly

Health Mimister Stephen Donnelly said the vaccination programme was "not a race to June 30" and that Ireland will continue vaccinating into the summer. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Ireland is still on track to give or offer the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to over 80% of the population by the end of June, the Health Minister says.

Stephen Donnelly said that the vaccine rollout had changed numerous times since its inception, but was still on track to hit the target set out by the Taoiseach last January.

However, Mr Donnelly said the programme was "not a race to June 30" and that Ireland will continue vaccinating into the summer.

"There's no magic about the end of June. On the first of July, we'll still be vaccinating tens of thousands of people."

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Mr Donnelly said that yesterday's NIAC advice - that the Johnson & Johnson and Astrazeneca vaccines be used for over 50s - was "good news" and ensured that Ireland could meet its target.

He said that "the plan right now is to get the vaccines out and available to people as quickly as they come into the country".

There were already 14,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the country with a further 12,000 due to arrive today. The Minister said he anticipated that 600,000 doses would arrive between April and the end of June.

The Health Minister said that there was "more than enough" vaccine stock to vaccinate those cohorts who are now eligible to receive their vaccination but that new evidence could make vaccines available to younger people as time goes on.

Mr Donnelly said that those in their 40s can expect to receive their vaccine in June. He added that he expects to receive his that month.

However, the Covid-19 lead for the Irish College of General Practitioners has said it would be "optimistic" to believe 82% of adults will have received their first Covid-19 vaccine dose by the end of June.

Dr Mary Favier, who is also a member of the National Public Health Emergency Team, told the Today with Claire Byrne programme that achieving that target "would take everyone pulling out all the stops".

She said maintaining a high level of vaccination will be "important" to any easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

"I think it's optimistic, and I think it would take everybody pulling out all the stops to achieve it.

"It will depend on supply, but we need to aim for it, we need to aim high and it is going to be so important with any easing of restrictions that we maintain high vaccination rates."

Meanwhile, on the issue of inter-county travel, Mr Donnelly said it would "not be helpful" for him to speculate on when it might be possible. He said that he understood the public's desire to book holidays, but said that specifics could not yet be given.

"I think most people would say let's get out of this, but do it in a sustainable way, which keeps the curve flat."

Mr Donnelly said the "impact data" for vaccinated cohorts was "amazing".