Top health officials said that it will be "some time" before vaccination can allow social restrictions to be eased in Ireland.
They also warned that we are in a "very different situation" than in Spring 2020 due to mutations of the virus, and that we cannot expect progress to be made at a "similar rate".
The grim message came in the newly-released National Public Health Emergency Team minutes, which covered the meeting on February 18.
And in addressing the potential reopening of society, NPHET expressed serious concerns over a further surge in infections, and added that case numbers remained "extremely worrying".
They also said that we would need "significant further improvement" before a "largescale" easing of measures.
The note reads: "The preliminary modelling presented by the IEMAG suggests that there will be a continuing need for restrictions to suppress transmission until such time as a sufficient proportion of the population is vaccinated to effectively suppress transmission by immunity alone.
"It was further noted that while emerging data shows that vaccines will play a critical role in the management of COVID-19, it is simply too early to predict what the full impact of vaccines will be. Uncertainties and unknowns in relation to variants and vaccine effectiveness and uptake levels were noted.
"A further surge in cases will have a detrimental effect on vaccine rollout and extend the length of time it takes to successfully vaccinate the eligible population.
"At this stage, the vaccine should not be considered a control measure that will allow population-level social restrictions to be released and it could be some time before it can be relied upon in such a way.
"This view is supported by the fact that countries such as Israel, which has one of the highest rates of vaccination, is still exercising a cautious approach to easing restrictions.
"There is a danger that people have become inured to the case numbers. At no previous point in the pandemic would an easing of restrictions have been considered at the weekly case numbers that are currently being recorded.
"Although a great deal of progress has been made, the incidence rates are still extremely worrying, and it is vital that people understand that significant further improvement is required before a largescale easing of measures can be considered."
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And NPHET experts also signalled a stark warning over new variants of the virus, which will make it "more difficult" to suppress the disease.
They added: "It is important to remember that the new variant of the virus makes it more difficult to reduce the R number and keep the incidence rate low.
"Making and maintaining progress is more difficult now than at the start of the pandemic and it is possible that new variants will emerge that are even harder to suppress.
"It is important to communicate to the public that this is a very different situation than that faced during Spring 2020, and they should not expect progress to be made at a similar rate. "
