It’s a big week for the HSE.

More than 80,000 vaccinations will be carried out in the coming days, with people aged over 85 now eligible to receive the vaccine from their local GP or vaccination centre.

While we still have some way to go in driving down infections, Health Service Executive boss Paul Reid was feeling hopeful this morning, as thousands more frontline healthcare workers were vaccinated over the weekend.

“We’re heading into a more positive phase in dealing with #COVID19.” Mr Reid tweeted.

“We all wish we had more supplies to vaccinate quicker. But soon we’ll have our most vulnerable living in care homes and in the community protected. And supplies improve from this week too.”

We’re heading into a more positive phase in dealing with #COVID19. We all wish we had more supplies to vaccinate quicker. But soon we’ll have our most vulnerable living in care homes and in the community protected. And supplies improve from this week too. #Hope @HSELive

— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) February 15, 2021

A further 17 people died of coronavirus in Ireland in the past 24 hours, with 788 new cases reported. The median age of those who died was 80 years and the age range was 50-92 years.

Right now, 899 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 160 are in ICU.

A total of 261,073 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland so far. 171,239 people have received their first dose and 89,834 people have now received their second dose.

According to Mr Reid, this week’s vaccination rate will be almost twice that of previous weeks.