"It's really key that we do take it quite serious and treat it with the concern it deserves."
HSE Chief Paul Reid has said that the Delta variant will "out match" the supply of Covid-19 vaccines in Ireland over the coming weeks.
Speaking at a Department of Health press briefing on Thursday, Reid said that people who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated need to be very careful amid concerns over the Delta strain of the virus.
“Our most likely scenario is that the spread of Delta will out match our supply of vaccines over the coming weeks," he said.
"It's really key that we do take it quite serious and treat it with the concern it deserves."
Reid added that even those who are fully vaccinated "can come under threat" if the Delta variant spreads rapidly throughout the country.
"We also know that the variant spreads prominently amongst those who are not fully vaccinated, and then a proportion of those who are fully vaccinated can come under threat," he continued.
"The gap we continue to close each day is continuing to make sure people have had their second doses and are fully vaccinated, while at the same time moving through the ages."
Reid added that two million adults in Ireland have now been fully vaccinated, meanwhile, 70% of the adult population have received at least one dose.
He said that, for now, "all other lines of defence" would also be needed against the virus as well as the vaccine rollout.
"We do wish we had more time and indeed more supplies to stay ahead of the variant and most likely the increase that will happen."
