Leo Varadkar confirms Ireland to overtake UK’s vaccination rate in “next week or so”

66.9% of adults in Ireland are now fully vaccinated compared to 70.5% who are fully vaccinated in the UK.

Leo Varadkar has confirmed that Ireland is likely to overtake the UK in terms of Covid-19 vaccinations administered "in the next week or so". 66.9% of Irish adults are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19, compared to 70.5% in the UK. 84% of adults in Ireland have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine as Ireland is currently the fastest country in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for Covid-19 vaccinations. Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, Varadkar wrote: "Circa 66.9% of people 16+ are now fully vaccinated in Ireland or roughly 68.9% over 18+. "That compares with 70.5% in the UK. We should overtake them in next week or so. Well done HSE." https://twitter.com/leovaradkar/status/1419986793609506822?s=21 As well as being the fastest country in the OECD for Covid-19 vaccinations, Ireland also ranks 12th in the 38 OECD member countries in terms of vaccines administered. The figures, which compare the seven-day rolling average of the 38 countries in the OECD, show that Ireland, in the seven days up to 18 July, had been vaccinating 1.24% of the population per day. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly confirmed on Monday evening that the Covid-19 vaccine portal would open for those aged over 16 from Tuesday. It comes just a week after the portal opened to everyone in the country aged over 18 to receive an mRNA vaccine. Taking to Twitter he wrote: "Registration for those age 16 and 17 for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment will start tomorrow, Tuesday. "It's important that we continue to get as many of our population vaccinated as soon as vaccines are available and following the safety advice of our experts." https://twitter.com/donnellystephen/status/1419726046220402692?s=21 To register online for a 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.