The suspension of the AstraZeneca jab in Ireland will see 30,000 high risk patients have their vaccine appointments cancelled next week.
Use of the Oxford-made treatment has been suspended following reports of serious blood clots in a number of patients in Norway.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said it was "disappointing" that tens of thousands of people will not receive their first dose next week.
“Of course it will be very disappointing for people not to get their jab this week, and I recognise that and regret it,” he told the Irish Independent.
“I hope they will be comforted by the fact that the clinical advice is erring on the side of caution while this issue is investigated. I’d be glad to know that this is clinically-led.”
More than 100,000 people in Ireland have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Those that were due to receive the treatment next week are in high risk groups such as transplantees and patients on kidney dialysis, along with some cancer sufferers.
No one was due to receive their second dose next week.
Earlier today the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) confirmed it had received a small number of reports of blood clotting though they are not as serious as the ones reported in Norway.
They said: "To date, the HPRA has received a small number of reports associated with blood clots following vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
"However, it has not received any reports of the nature of those described by the Norwegian Medicines Agency.
"We will continue to monitor national reports very closely and continue to encourage the reporting of any suspected side effect following vaccination with a COVID-19 vaccine.
"There is currently no indication that vaccination was the cause of these events and there may be alternative explanations for their occurrence that are unrelated to the vaccine.
"However, the safety of the public is of the utmost importance, and it is essential that reports of potential safety concerns, even if very rare, are rigorously and swiftly investigated so that the public can be reassured and if required, appropriate action can be taken."
