The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced that pregnant women will be offered a Covid-19 vaccination in the next few weeks.
It comes as advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) was accepted by the Government this morning.
NIAC also recommended that the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines be made available to people aged 50 and older, as well as other changes.
Speaking to reporters earlier this afternoon, Mr Donnelly said that the addition of pregnant women to the vaccine queue will not mean another cohort.
"We'll work through with the HSE to put protocols in to make that happen. There wasn't a suggestion that the rollout for pregnant women would be based on age. I think it's fair to say that most pregnant women will be below 50 - we only got the advice last night so we'll work with the HSE this week."
Mr Donnelly added that all vaccines can now be used for people over 50 years.
It is unconfirmed whether the partners of pregnant women will also be offered jabs in the move.
The vaccine will be offered to pregnant women between 14-36 weeks gestation, after a discussion with their obstetric specialist.
Earlier, the Minister said it was ''full steam ahead'' for the rollout.
Mr Donnelly told the Irish Mirror and other waiting reporters: “It is all good news.
“I was talking with the HSE late last night, the taskforce early this morning, obviously this all has to be approved by Cabinet and it has to be agreed by Cabinet, but I will be making the recommendation to Cabinet.
“And if Cabinet accepts it, then really it’s full steam ahead (with the jabs programme) to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as we can.
“And so the plans are being put in place by the HSE, by the taskforce so that if Cabinet does approve it, we can move immediately."
