HSE chief Paul Reid has praised the maturity of young people as the first vaccines were administered to the 12–15 age cohort on Friday.
Taking to Twitter, he said: "Yesterday I witnessed many parents & their children from 12 to 15 attending a vaccination centre in Carrick on Shannon.
“Children have sacrificed so much in this pandemic too & they have shown maturity beyond their years.
“Vaccinations are our way out of this awful period.”
Figures have shown that more than 75,000 people aged 12-15 have registered to receive the vaccine in the first 28 hours since the portal opened.
Children in the age group will receive a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, provided they have consent from their parent or legal guardian.
Mr Reid said over 10,000 children within this cohort received their first jab at their GP or at one of the many vaccination clinics across the country within 24 hours of registering.
Yesterday marked another milestone in the vaccination programme as over 80 per cent of adults are now fully vaccinated, and almost 90 per cent have received their first dose.
Although the vaccine programme is having a positive impact on the number of infected people with Covid ending up in hospital or ICU, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn has warned the current incidence rate will see a “significant number of people getting very sick”.
This comes after the highest daily figure in seven months of 1,978 cases were confirmed yesterday.
Dr Glynn said there has been a four-fold increase in Covid hospitalisations and ICU admissions over the past six weeks and urged people not to become complacent.
The five-day moving average is currently at 1,1748, after a 26 per cent increase in the past week.
The latest figures have shown that there are 221 people with Covid in hospitals, with 43 of those patients in ICU.
Dr Glynn said: “While we have very high incidence across Donegal, Monaghan, Mayo, Galway, Louth and Cavan in particular, incidence is rising across all 26 counties.”
He added: “Vaccines work, but they must also be supported by all of us continuing to follow the public health advice to keep each other safe and break the chains of transmission of COVID-19.
"If you plan to socialise this weekend, risk assess your plans. Try to meet up in small groups, meet outdoors and avoid crowds if possible.
"Wear a mask where appropriate, wash your hands, manage your contacts and maintain your social distance. If you are in an environment that feels unsafe, then leave."
