Taoiseach Micheál Martin has announced the Government has completed a deal to secure an extra 700,000 Covid-19 vaccines from Romania.
Mr Martin had revealed some weeks ago that the Government had spoken to the Romanian president about purchasing surplus vaccines.
Mr Martin has announced the news on Twitter and said it is a “welcome boost” to the vaccine rollout.
He tweeted: “We’ve completed a deal to secure an additional 700,000 #CovidVaccines from Romania/EU.
“Fantastic news and a welcome boost to our rollout, which continues to experience huge support and uptake from the Irish public.”
In a statement, Mr Martin said: “As deliveries arrive this month, they will be used to meet the continued high uptake of our Covid vaccines.
“These new Pfizer vaccines will ensure supply as we continue the next phases of the rollout over the summer and autumn months.
“I want to thank Romania and the EU for their assistance and show of solidarity to Ireland as we further protect our citizens in this pandemic.”
Reacting, the head of Ireland’s vaccine taskforce has said the country has an “absolute rock solid” availability of vaccines and that the end is in sight.
Professor Brian McCraith has said the country is in the final stages of the vaccination programme.
Professor McCraith said: "I was delighted when I saw the Taoiseach's announcement that 700,000 doses [will be] arriving in August, probably in two deliveries.
“It means that we have this absolute rock solid availability of vaccines to close out the programme irrespective of take-up issues so it really buys us that safety net of vaccines and to have vaccines to accelerate at whatever rate we need to at this stage.”
Speaking to Virgin Media News, Prof McCraith said “we’re certainly seeing the end in sight now.”
He added that “it's very clear that the announcement will happen very shortly about the vaccinations for the 12-15 year olds.”
It comes as Dr Tony Holohan is expected to give an update to Government ministers on Friday on the Delta variant after an increase in hospitalisations.
Mr Martin and ministers will meet virtually for a Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19 and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is also expected to give an update on the vaccination programme.
It’s understood the online portal for 12-15 year olds to register for a Covid-19 vaccine appointment is being finalised and an announcement is expected this week on when it will go live.
Despite the optimistic message from Dr Holohan and HSE boss Paul Reid recently, there are concerns about a “trickle upwards” in the number of people being admitted to hospital.
The Chief Medical Officer and NPHET members have also been working on vaccination targets for the Government to reach before advising to relax any further restrictions.
Dr Holohan is expected to advise the Government on achievable vaccination targets and what criteria “might enable us to say, look, we’ve reached the point now that we’re ready to move on.”
Dr Holohan and NPHET are expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss the current trajectory of the virus before Dr Holohan briefs ministers on Friday.
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