The vaccination programme in Northern Ireland will open for everyone aged 18 and over from Thursday, it's been announced.
More than one million people have now had at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in Northern Ireland– over 70% of the adult population - and more than 625,000 (over 40%) have received two doses.
Opening the booking system to all adults is another important milestone in the vaccination programme, which was launched less than six months ago, the Department of Health in Northern Ireland have said.
But the announcement has left thousands of younger people in the Republic staring in jealousy at those north of the border.
As it stands, the only people aged under 50 to have gotten a coronavirus vaccination are those who live in long-term care facilities, healthcare workers and those with medical conditions which put them at a very high risk of severe disease.
With every passing week, thousands of people are being jabbed - and the Government has promised in the past that 80% of all eligible adults will have been offered a Covid-19 vaccination by the end of June.
But the HSE are reluctant to provide a specific time for just when everyone will get a dose.
They say: "Because supplies of vaccines are limited at the moment, it is not possible to give an exact time for everyone. We understand that people are looking forward to getting their vaccine and will keep this information updated."
But we do know the order in which they will go:
- 64-55 years (currently being vaccinated)
- 54-45 years (currently being vaccinated)
- 44-35 years
- 34-25 years
- 24-16 years
The Government’s vaccine promises are up in the air because of new vaccine supply shortages.
Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly, has said in the Dáil that massive problems with the supply line means it is “unclear” if the important Government promise to have 80% of adults with a jab by July can now be met.
This could affect the Government’s plans to lift restrictions and reopen pubs in July to be announced by Taoiseach Micheal Martin in a State of the Nation address on Friday evening.
Mr Donnelly said on Thursday morning that there are now “serious concerns” around the supply of the game-changing Janssen one-shot jab, as he revealed there are now only as few as 60,000 of a scheduled 476,000 doses on the way next month.
He also said there are extra “questions” around expected deliveries of AstraZeneca jabs, adding that they have been “consistently under” what they’ve promised.
However, Mr Donnelly had some good news to reveal to the Dáil too when he told TDs that half of the adult population will have received a jab by this weekend.
