The number of Covid cases continues to rise as the Department of Health confirmed a further 2,855 new cases on Monday.
With 515 Covid patients currently in hospital, 91 of whom are in intensive care, the health sector is increasingly coming under more pressure.
The seven-day positivity rates for Covid tests has risen from 10.1% to 12.1% in the past week, according to the Covid data hub.
The rising case numbers have prompted those who are not already fully vaccinated to come forward to receive the jab.
Chief Executive of the HSE, Paul Reid, said: "Over the past six days almost 15,000 people have come to a vaccination centre via an appointment or walk in. Almost 7,000 via walk in. Avg 1,800 registering per day. Its never too late."
Booster shots for those over the age of 60 will also begin to be administered this week, with Minister Stephen Donnelly confirming that over 270,000 frontline health workers will now also be given the booster jab.
The decision came after the government received advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
In a statement on Twitter, Minister Donnelly said: "I received the NIAC advice just in the last few hours. We've been working hard with the HSE in the background to be ready should we receive this advice.
"In further good news, the HSE advises that it believes it will be ready to begin administering these booster vaccines to healthcare workers this coming weekend."
It is hoped the booster jab will provide some relief to the health sector as almost 3,500 health care workers are currently absent due to Covid related illnesses.
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The government has not ruled out the chance of another lockdown as it monitors the evolving situation.
Speaking at the opening of a food production hub in Co Monaghan, Tanaiste Leo Vardakar said: "What we try to do as best we can is to make the decisions based on what's best for public health and what the science is telling us.
"But science isn't set in stone, and new evidence and new information becomes available, and that has caused us over the course of the pandemic to change tack on occasion, to change policies, to introduce policies, and I understand that's frustrating for people and can be confusing at times.
"But the objective is to do the right thing based on the science that's available, and that does continue to evolve."
