Ireland’s vaccine rollout is “moving at the fastest pace possible” as the country passes two million doses administered, according to the HSE.
More than 37% of the adult of the adult population has now received their first dose, according to health service CEO Paul Reid.
By last night, he said 1,971,000 vaccines had been administered.
On The Hard Shoulder this evening, HSE's National Lead for the Vaccination Programme, Damien McCallion said the programme is continuing apace.
“GPs are one aspect of it – a really important part. Our vaccination centres are obviously starting to get very well-known now as they have opened up right across the country in recent weeks,” he said.
“We also have community vaccination teams who have been going out and vaccinating in settings such as mental health, disability or acute hospitals.
“There’s also the National Ambulance Service so there is a wide range of people that have been involved in this programme right across the country and we should recognise the work that everyone is doing to keep the programme moving at the fastest pace possible and the safest pace possible as well.”
He said HES is committed to hitting the Government’s target of administering a first dose to 82% of people by the end of June.
“We’re committed to maximising the vaccine and to hitting all the targets as set by Government,” he said.
“The challenges we are facing week on week are well documented around supply challenges and we are currently waiting on some guidance from NIAC.
“We have been replanning, at this stage, I wouldn’t like to think about the number of times we have had to do that but that is just part of the nature of it. This is a global pandemic; every country is facing these challenges and planning their vaccination programmes.
“We are still working to maximise and get the vaccine out to the centres and all the other places I mentioned as quickly as possible each week and thus far, we are managing to do that.
“Our target is to get between 90% and 100% of the vaccine out and used within seven days.”
