Sarah Mooney
The Minister for Health has said the vaccination of the Irish population to protect against Covid-19 may now begin before the new year.
Speaking this afternoon at the launch of the National Covid-19 Vaccination Strategy, Stephen Donnelly said the day was one of hope.
Mr Donnelly said an initial and small round of vaccination could begin in the State before the new year, as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced this afternoon that it may bring its authorisation of a vaccine forward.
The regulator said it will now meet on December 21st, rather than December 29th, regarding Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine. This makes the vaccine's authorisation likely shortly afterwards.
"We have a plan, the plan was designed to be flexible," Mr Donnelly said of the vaccine's roll-out in the Republic.
Mr Donnelly described the vaccine's potential authorisation around the week of Christmas as "welcome news," however, he warned there was a continued need for the country to "keep our shape" in terms of adherence to Covid-19 measures.
The level at which the virus is circulating in the country matters in terms of a vaccine roll-out, he cautioned.
"Right now, we have the lowest rate of Covid-19 of any country in the EU. It is important to remember that Covid-19 is still out there, and it is still dangerous and, in some cases, fatal," he said.
"Cases of Covid-19 have crept up again in recent days, and so we must all be careful. Mind yourselves. Stick with the public health advice. Mind your loved ones. And remember, every contact counts.”
It comes as Cabinet will today sign off on a plan to deliver more than €100 million worth of vaccines across the country, as the State moves to implement the most important inoculation programme since its foundation.
More to follow...
