GPs told they will be able to administer boosters to people aged 16 and over

It comes as over 45,000 booster shots were administered yesterday.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has told GPs they will be able to administer booster vaccine shots to people aged 16 and over. However, the health service also said GPs should continue to prioritise older and more vulnerable patients. Currently, booster doses are being offered to people aged 50 and older, those living in a nursing home or a long-term healthcare facility, healthcare workers and people aged 16 to 49 with an underlying condition. However, under the new plans, boosters will soon be offered to those 16 and older who are pregnant and those aged 16 to 49, according to the HSE website. The latter are to be called in stages starting with the older cohorts. The HSE told JOE in a statement that it has provided guidance to GPs advising them that they must complete their over 50 and medically vulnerable patients first in accordance with NIAC guidance. "Once all of these patients have been offered a booster vaccine, they should continue to vaccinate in line with NIAC guidance," it said. The news comes as Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said Tuesday (14 December) was the "busiest day" so far for Ireland's booster vaccination programme, with over 45,000 shots administered. "We are seeing a really significant step change as 'all hands on deck' to administer even more boosters in the coming weeks," he wrote on Twitter. "A huge effort by our staff and volunteers, healthcare workers, GPs and pharmacies." https://twitter.com/DonnellyStephen/status/1471110091948572675 Meanwhile, speaking on Tuesday evening, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the HSE will be vaccinating high-risk children aged 5 - 11 from next week. He also said the Government's "key initial focus" is on the booster vaccine programme, adding that the opening hours of vaccination centres are to be extended, more are to open and that all GPs are being asked to help administer boosters to the population.