Almost 65,000 12 to 15 year old have registered online for the Covid-19 vaccination.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, HSE boss Paul Reid said this reflects “a very strong point” in the vaccination programme.
He said many of the 12- to 15-year-olds who registered yesterday will have already received an appointment date.
He said the vaccine uptake in Ireland has been “phenomenal” as they move through the age groups, and the benefits are “really strong”.
“What we have seen as we move down through the younger ages is not an immediate uptake on the first day or two or three, but a strong uptake over a period of a week or two weeks, and that’s been reflected in 16- to 17-year-olds and now almost 70% of them have registered. Similarly…the 18- to 29-year-olds over 80%.”
Mr Reid said they are “very conscious” to ensure that parents and guardians of 12- to 15-year-olds “think about it carefully” and receive the right advice about vaccination.
He said 6.28 million vaccines have now been administered here, with over 80% of adults fully vaccinated and almost 90% partially vaccinated.
