Pharmacies across Donegal and the rest of the country are to administer the Covid vaccine.
More than 1,000 pharmacies have already applied to join the scheme which will speed up the roll-out.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly told the Seanad last night will join the plan later this month.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Irish Pharmacy Union Secretary General Darragh O’Loughlin said there has been a lot of public frustration that people have not been able to get a vaccine in their local pharmacy.
He said that pharmacists have been delayed consistently by the Health Service Executive from participating in the roll-out.
Mr O’Loughlin said he expects pharmacists will initially deliver supplies of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine to those over 50 who have not yet had a vaccination.
He said while vaccination centres have been working, it does not suit everyone to have to travel and making vaccines available in local communities has proven to increase uptake in other countries.
Mr O’Loughlin added that people have a trusted relationship with pharmacists and pharmacists are ideally placed to help people overcome vaccine hesitancy and “hopefully improve the uptake”.
He pointed out that the vaccine uptake has been “tremendous in the older cohorts”, but have not been as high in the younger age groups.
However, he added, accessibility and convenience of vaccination are key factors in encouraging those who might be hesitant to get the vaccine.
