The vaccine programme will be expanded after Christmas.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly yesterday announced that Ireland’s vaccination programme would be further accelerated in the week following Christmas Day.

From Wednesday, December 29th, people aged 30 to 39 will have the opportunity to receive a booster dose/primary dose in HSE Vaccination Centres and pharmacies. GPs are already permitted to vaccinate within this age cohort if they have administered vaccines to patients from the older age brackets.

From the same date, boosters will be offered to those between the ages of 18-29 who received a Janssen first dose. These will be available through GPs and pharmacy (where pharmacy have the necessary stock) initially. There will then be bespoke clinics running from the following week in Vaccination Centres to support this group.

All children between the ages of 5-11 will be eligible for a primary dose of the vaccine from January 8th onwards, and the portal for booking a vaccination will open on December 28th.

Speaking yesterday, Minister Donnelly said: “I am delighted to announce this acceleration of Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. As we face into a challenging period, it is important that all groups have the opportunity to be vaccinated with a booster to offer protection to as many people as possible.”