Donnelly gets first vaccine as milestone 3m dose expected this weekend

The Health Minister said he felt very privileged to receive his vaccine on Saturday. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Stephen Donnelly has received his first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine as the three millionth dose of vaccine is expected to be administered over the weekend.

The Health Minister said he felt very privileged to receive his vaccine on Saturday.

He thanked clinicians, HSE staff, volunteers, the Irish Red Cross and everyone involved in the community effort to run vaccine centres such as the one he attended this afternoon in Greystones, Co Wicklow.

In a video recorded following his vaccine, Mr Donnelly joked that he didn't get a lollipop after the jab but the nurse had said he was very brave.

With the milestone three millionth dose of a Covid vaccine expected to be reached this weekend, Mr Donnelly said it was an amazing achievement.

The European Medicines Agency has approved the Pfizer jab for children of that age after a trial found it was safe to use.

Looking ahead to the future of the vaccine rollout, Mr Donnelly said he would like to see the Pfizer vaccine rolled out to 12-15 year olds with underlying conditions as quickly as possible.

The European Medicines Agency has approved the jab for children of that age after a trial found it was safe to use.

There has been no advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac) yet on rolling it out here.

Mr Donnelly says one option is to make it part of a school vaccination programme.

"We are awaiting a considered view from Niac on that and then we will work with the taskforce and the HSE to see how that might be rolled out," he said.

From today, the vaccine registration portal is open to anyone aged 41 and over.