Irish health officials confirmed on Tuesday that vaccines will now be accessible for those aged 12-15 ahead of a return to school in September.
Nearly 70% of the population have now received their full dose and are now protected against the severe side effects associated with Covid, while around 85% of the remaining adults are now partially protected.
50,000 doses were administered on Tuesday alone according to HSE chief Paul Reid, who said it’s hoped the speed of the rollout will help us to "reverse the trend on Delta".
Speaking about the younger cohorts finally being offered the jab, Mr Reid said: "Teenagers have sacrificed a lot throughout Covid-19 and we should be proud of their response overall.
"Now, it's their turn to be protected.
"16 & 17-year-olds can register online to receive their vaccine. And we'll be aiming to get these done promptly.
"They deserve it."
Some are querying whether the doses are safe for such a young cohort due to the fact that new advice was only released very recently.
However, they should be reassured that top medical professionals have found the vaccine to be safe and effective for 12 years and up after extensive studies.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which approved the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for teenagers, has encouraged all EU member states to offer doses to the same age group.
The Irish Government hopes that anyone in this cohort who would like to receive a vaccine will be fully protected in the first half of September, according to Minister Simon Coveney.
RTE reported that vaccination could begin as early as next week, so it can be completed before the start of the new school term.
Dr. Mary Favier, of the Irish College of General Practitioners and a member of NPHET, said the risks associated with vaccinating 12-15 year-olds are 'small' and they can be "largely discounted" while they "will help children stay at school."
She agreed "it’s entirely reasonable that parents would have questions" but that there will be fact sheets produced.
"The HSE will have a lot of detailed information on its website, and GPs will be able to answer these questions if they’re asked," she explained.
However, she said that doctors know how beneficial and effective the vaccines are and that giving them to teenagers will protect not just the individual, but the rest of society as well.
Meanwhile, Professor Liam Fanning told Newstalk Breakfast that parents and guardians will be given all the "clear and concise" details they need on the specific advantages of vaccination for children.
He said if we vaccinate this cohort, it offers them protection against the virus and complications of long Covid - which are being seen in a number of cases among younger people.
