The date from which the age cohort can receive a booster has been brought forward.
Booster vaccines are to be made available for people in their 40s from Sunday (19 December).
Originally, the date from which those in the 40-49 age cohort could receive a booster dose was 27 December.
However, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced on Friday night that the date has been brought forward as part of an acceleration of Ireland’s vaccine programme.
📢📢📢 Further acceleration of the booster vaccination programme for those aged 40-49 – boosters will be available from THIS SUNDAY – GPs, Pharmacies and some walk-in clinics at vaccination centres – details on VCs will be available on @HSELive and website pic.twitter.com/UEGwDjJPYT
— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) December 17, 2021
In a Twitter post on Saturday morning, HSE CEO Paul Reid urged people in the cohort to get their booster at the “earliest opportunity”.
“We’re bringing forward the 40-49 ages for booster vaccines to now commence from tomorrow,” he wrote.
“Please take the earliest opportunity to do so via vaccination centres (including walk-ins), GPs (they will contact you) or contact your pharmacy.”
We're bringing forward the 40-49 ages for booster vaccines to now commence from tomorrow (Sunday 19th Dec). Please take the earliest opportunity to do so via Vaccination Centres (incl walk-ins), GPs (they will contact you) or contact your Pharmacy. @HSELive
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) December 18, 2021
According to Reid, over 1.46 million booster and third dose vaccines have been administered in Ireland to date.
The HSE chief said that almost 250,000 vaccines were administered from Monday to Friday this week, with over 55,000 people receiving a vaccine on Friday.
“A great response once again from the Irish public to strengthen our protection,” he added.
There are now over 1.46M booster & 3rd dose vaccines administered. Yesterday, over 55,000 people received a vaccine. Almost 250,000 vaccines administered from Monday to Friday, this week. A great response once again from the Irish public to strengthen our protection. @HSELive
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) December 18, 2021
The news comes as Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced a handful of new restrictions on Friday evening following advice from NPHET designed to curb the spread of Covid-19 in light of the new Omicron variant.
Among the new measures is a requirement for all restaurants, bars and cafes, excluding take-away or delivery services, to close at 8pm from midnight on Sunday night.
The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) has called the decision by Government to implement the curfew as “closure in camouflage”.
In his address announcing the new restrictions, the Taoiseach said Ireland was going to see a “massive rise in infections” on account of the Omicron variant.
“The challenge we face, as a Government and a people, is how we slow the rise in infection that is coming and how we prevent it from getting out of control,” Martin stated.
“Left unchecked, this new strain will represent a very significant threat to hospital and critical care, but also a threat to all of society and the economy.
“It spreads so aggressively, throughout all age groups, that we are likely to see infections at a rate that is far in excess of anything we have seen to date.”
The Taoiseach said the new restrictions were being introduced to slow the spread of the Omicron variant as the population is administered booster vaccines.
“Everything that can be done to get [boosters] into people’s arms is being done,” he added.
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