Booster vaccines for healthcare staff have been given the go-ahead this evening.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced that vaccines will begin to be administered this weekend.
The authorisation comes following long-awaited advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
There are currently 3,500 healthcare workers off work due to Covid-19.
The HSE has been tasked with rolling out the vaccines to over 270,000 frontline health staff. NIAC has advised that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines can be used regardless of the initial vaccine course.
Minister Donnelly, announcing the measures, tweeted: “I am advised that for under 60’s not immunocompromised, effectiveness of vaccines is sustained against serious illness, hospitalisation & ICU admission. However, there is evidence of waning immunity over time of increased risk of breakthrough infection, most of which is mild.”
