Walk-in vaccination centres are said to be off to a ‘great start’ today, as hundreds of people attend clinics to get their first vaccine dose.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan praised young people for "lining up to get vaccinated, both to protect themselves and to play their part in protecting the community".
HSE CEO Paul Reid said the Citywest centre in Dublin was off to a "flying" start, with more than 800 people vaccinated within 90 minutes of the centre opening this morning.
He said smaller centres across the country are also reporting good turnout.
Walk in Vaccination Centres all across the country are off to a great start this weekend. City West is flying it, with over 800 people vaccinated in the first 1.5 hours. Smaller centres equally reporting a good turnout. A great response by the Irish people. @HSELive pic.twitter.com/QpfgDXZHBz
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) July 31, 2021
Mr Reid says the opening of the centres today - seven months after the first vaccine doses were administered in Ireland - means “we’re on the final countdown to protect ourselves and to rebuild”.
Photos shared on social media this morning also showed hundreds of mostly young people queueing to get their first dose at other centres.
The walk-in centres are open to anyone aged over 16 who has yet to get a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
There are nearly 40 vaccination centres operating as walk-in clinics this weekend, although opening times vary from site-to-site.
