The COVID-19 pandemic is unlikely to end before 2021 finishes, a top Irish doc has warned - and the impact of it will be felt for decades.
As Ireland recorded its lowest daily cases count since December, WHO's Mike Ryan has said the assumption that the pandemic would end this year is "premature and unrealistic".
And he warned that the long term outcome of it, economically, socially and mentally, will be felt for decades calling it both an "epidemic and infodemic".
There were 359 cases of the coronavirus announced in Ireland yesterday evening.
While he said the vaccination programme is an important step in protecting the elderly, vulnerable and healthcare workers, he urged the public to remember that COVID-19 is very much "in control".
He said: "It will be very premature, and I think unrealistic, to think that we’re going to finish with this virus by the end of the year.
"If the vaccines begin to impact not only on death and not only on hospitalisation but have a significant impact on transmission dynamics and transmission risk, then I believe we will accelerate towards controlling the pandemic.”
It has also emerged that the HSE missed its vaccination target of 100,000 doses last week.
Some 81,843 jabs were administered from Monday, February 22 to Sunday, February 28.
This was 18,157 short of the goal of 100,000 doses.
Sunday accounted for the lowest number of vaccines given on a single day during the week with 2,427 first doses and 35 second doses delivered, figures on the HSE Vaccine Program Dashboard find.
The Pfizer vaccine made up for the majority of doses administered at 82.8%, followed by AstraZeneca at 15.3%, and Moderna at 2%.
So far a total of 439,782 vaccines have been given in the country since February 5.
