Ireland “On Track” To Ease Restrictions in May

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Taoiseach Micheál Martin

Ireland remains on track to meet its target of further easing restrictions in May and giving four out of five people their first vaccine dose by June, the Government has said.

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste moved to reassure the public after a double setback to the vaccine rollout earlier this week was tempered by news of around 550,000 extra doses of the Pfizer product to be delivered in quarter two this year.

The government has also confirmed that those aged 59 and under in very high-risk and high-risk categories who have yet to be vaccinated will receive an alternative vaccine to the AstraZeneca vaccine. The rollout to these groups will continue now on this basis. An online portal to allow people to book their vaccination opened at 10 am today. The online portal opens today for those aged 65-69 to register on a staggered basis. Those aged 60-64 will be allowed to register next. This is registration portal is available at www.hse.ie .

The HSE has said there is no hurry for people in this group to register immediately, that they can do so at their convenience, and that registering first does not mean that a person will get vaccinated first. It also said that from now on, most groups in the population will be asked to use this same online registration portal or call the HSE Live phone number to register for vaccinations when their turn comes. The immediate focus of the vaccine plan is on those at higher risk and those aged 60 and over and that rollout is continuing. The remainder of the population, in order of age, will follow.

For updated and factual Public Health information and advice on COVID-19 Coronavirus, please visit hse.ie/coronavirus or call 1800 700 700

For the latest information on the Covid-19 Vaccine Programme, please visit hse.ie/covid-19-vaccine