Some positive news about a vaccine from An Taoiseach.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that a Covid-19 vaccine should be rolled out in Ireland in the first half of 2021.
Martin said that the vaccine – which was announced by Pfizer earlier this week after trials found it was over 90% effective – could be available for priority groups in the first half of next year, but that it should be more available to others across the country by the middle of next year.
Earlier this week, meanwhile, the European Commission approved a contract to purchase up to 300 million doses of the new vaccine, subject to it being proven safe and effective,
Speaking to RTÉ, Martin said that he doesn’t have precise dates about when exactly the Covid vaccine will be available, and that the distribution is still a major issue that will have to be resolved before any concrete details are released.
“I think you’re looking at hopefully the first half of 2021 that we can start rolling out vaccines, and maybe earlier for more vulnerable groups.”
When asked by Bryan Dobson about people who are not members of vulnerable groups, Martin said: “The middle of next year… That would be my guesstimate at this stage.”
Hopefully, in the first half of 2021…we could start rolling out [Covid-19] vaccines, maybe earlier for the more vulnerable groups, Taoiseach Micheál Martin tells Brian Dobson on RTÉ’s News at One pic.twitter.com/JFlJfFdlWn
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 13, 2020
Earlier on Friday, Martin urged Irish people to continue to adhere to Level 5 restrictions to give ourselves the best chance to reopen parts of society and “enjoy a meaningful Christmas”.
Meanwhile, in America, Doctor Anthony Fauci told people to remain positive, insisting that due to the vaccine, “an end is in sight”.
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