18-34 year olds can receive vaccines from pharmacies from Monday

Huge news.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced that vaccine distribution for 18 to 34 year olds will begin from Monday, 5 July. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Donnelly said that the recent NIAC advice regarding AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines meant the Government would offering an "opt in" choice for young people wishing to receive the vaccines. There will now be a two track approach to the vaccine rollout. He said that while the vaccine portal for mRNA vaccines would open for 30 to to 34 year olds on 9 July, there would also be an option for 18 to 34 year olds to receive an AstraZeneca or Janssen vaccine from pharmacies from Monday. "Next Friday the online portal is  going to open for 30 to 34 year olds ... and vaccinations will be with mRNA, mainly Pfizer and some Moderna will start about a week later," Donnelly said. "So we'll be moving very, very quickly with 30 to 34 years olds, but in parallel to that we're opening up an AstraZeneca and Janssen option if people want to get vaccinated earlier for the entire 18 to 34 year old group." He added: "Next Monday, pharmacies will begin administering Janssen to people aged 18 to 34 who have contacted their pharmacy, registered with their pharmacy and said, 'I'd like to be vaccinated, I appreciate that I will be getting an mRNA vaccine in the future but I want to get vaccinated now'. Donnelly warned that supplies of the vaccines are limited but he said the move would mean that all vaccine doses are used up and none will go to waste. He said there are around 40,000 doses of Janssen already in pharmacies across the country and there are another 100,000 doses in Government storage. To register online for a vaccine on the portal for an mRNA vaccine, you will need a mobile phone number, an email address, your PPS number and your Eircode. If you do not have these things, you are advised to call the Covid-19 helpline to register by phone instead. For more information on how to register for a Covid-19 vaccine in Ireland using the new portal, check out JOE's handy guide here.