Leo Varadkar has pledged that every adult in the country could have a jab by “early July.”
The Tánaiste confirmed that the plan is now to have a portal open next month that will allow every adult in the State register for their vaccination before the end of June.
It is then envisaged that they will get their first jab - which even on its own provides massive protection against Covid - weeks after that, early in July.
Mr Varadkar told the Dáil: “they might not have it (the jab) by the end of June, but they will certainly have their appointment for it in early July.”
The massive shot in the arm to the nation came in reply to a question on vaccine rollout from Labour leader, Alan Kelly, in the Dáil on Thursday afternoon.
Mr Varadkar said: “The Government target hasn’t changed and the Government target is that 82% of adults will have at least one dose, be fully vaccinated or have been offered the vaccine by the end of June.
“But what I was speaking about yesterday (at a private Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting) was the possibility of us opening the portal to all adults before the end of June so everybody will be able to book their appointment.
“So they might not have it (the jab) by the end of June, but they will certainly have their appointment for it in early July.
“That may well be achieved because, one, the vaccination programme is going very well….. And also because of the reality that there will always be 10% to 15% of people who choose not to take a vaccine, and that is their right and their choice, but we’re going to continue to encourage them to do so.”
