There are 1,459 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland today, the Department of Health has confirmed. 

296 hospital patients have tested positive with the disease - up 14 since yesterday - and 65 COVID patients are currently in ICU.

The five day moving average of cases stands at 1,349. 

The news comes on the same day that Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman announced that vaccinating the over fives is “definitely something we are looking at rolling out here.”

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When asked if vaccination was likely to begin before Christmas, the minister said it was entirely dependent on the vaccine’s approval by regulators. 

“I imagine it [approval] would be a number of months away before the Irish and European health authorities would be making final determinations on the usability of that particular vaccine.”

Clinical trials have found that the Pfizer vaccine is safe and effective for children aged between five and 11. 

Participants were given a smaller dose than adults, with a second shot administered 21 days later. Scientists found that children developed antibody responses of a similar level to those aged between 16 and 25. 

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said: “Over the past nine months, hundreds of millions of people ages 12 and older from around the world have received our COVID-19 vaccine.

"We are eager to extend the protection afforded by the vaccine to this younger population, subject to regulatory authorisation, especially as we track the spread of the Delta variant and the substantial threat it poses to children,

"These trial results provide a strong foundation for seeking authorization of our vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old, and we plan to submit them to the FDA and other regulators with urgency.”

Main image: Dr Tony Holohan prepares to brief the press.  Picture by: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie