The rate of vaccination in Ireland will drop by over 100,000 doses per week in July as supply lines narrow, Paul Reid has confirmed.
Almost 350,000 jabs were administered last week, with a number closer to 300,000 set to be given out this week as those aged 36 and older receive protection from the deadly coronavirus.
But speaking to an Oireachtas committee on Wednesday, Mr Reid, the CEO of the HSE, confirmed that it will fall considerably next month.
However, Mr Reid warned that what will happen next month will depend on what the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) advises in regard to the Astrazeneca and Johnson and Johnson vaccines.
He said: “We have a good supply line for the next two weeks of Pfizer and Moderna,
“At the moment we will be down to just the two supplies from Pfizer and Moderna. Unless there is some change with regard to Astrazeneca or Janssen (Johnson and Johnson), we’ll be looking at just over 200,000 per week, about 840,000 for July,” Mr Reid added.
However, Ireland is at a "worst-case scenario" with the one-shot Janssen vaccine.
Less than 80,000 doses of the vaccine have been delivered to Ireland in June.
That was from an original estimate of 470,000 doses.
Currently, the jab is being administered to those aged over 50 at pharmacies as the vaccine is not safe for administration to those under that aged, based of NIAC recommendations.
Younger people in their 20s can expect to receive the first jab of the Covid-19 vaccine at the end of August or in early September, it has emerged.
The HSE has finally shared a timeline for the youngest cohort currently eligible for vaccination.
It comes as people aged 36 are being invited to register online for their vaccine on Wednesday as the programme continues to roll out.
It comes after autumn booster jabs and vaccines for under 16s were also formally approved at this week’s Cabinet meeting.
Ministers were also told about millions of additional doses of approved vaccines for administration in 2022 that are also on the way.
A Government spokesman briefed political reporters on what the ministers were told about jabs.
