Ireland’s five millionth Covid-19 vaccine dose to be administered today

Stephen Donnelly has said Ireland's Covid-19 vaccination programme is a "huge success".

Ireland will have administered its five millionth Covid-19 vaccine dose by the end of today (Friday, 16 July), according to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. Also, from today, 25 to 29-year-olds can register to receive an MRNA Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre through the HSE portal. In a statement on Twitter, the Health Minister said: "Our Covid-19 vaccination programme is a huge success. The 5 millionth dose will be administered today. We are ahead of schedule so those aged 25-29 can now register. "Vaccinations are our way to beat this awful virus. We must keep going, stay safe and mind each other." Three out of five adults have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in Ireland, while three in four adults have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

Our COVID-19 vaccination programme is a huge success. The 5 millionth dose will be administered today. We are ahead of schedule so those age 25-29 can now register.

Vaccinations are our way to beat this awful virus. We must keep going, stay safe and mind each other. pic.twitter.com/wdnx8zR7WX — Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) July 16, 2021

On Thursday, 994 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Ireland, the highest daily number since 13 February. Asked if further reopenings due in the coming weeks and months will be affected by the increase in case numbers at this point, Donnelly told Virgin Media News on Thursday: "Right now, we don't believe so. "The vaccine programme really is going from strength to strength and between following the public health measures and the vaccine programme, we're going to be pushing back on this virus."