It could be early 2022 before the majority of people in the Republic are vaccinated against Covid-19, according to an infectious disease expert.
The three-stage rollout plan was announced yesterday, with nursing homes and large hospitals set to be the first to benefit.
The Health Minister said it could start by the end of the year, as EU regulators meet earlier than planned to discuss approval.
It comes as a further 8 deaths and 329 new cases of the virus were recorded here yesterday.
Fewer than 5 cases were reported in Sligo with no cases being recorded in Leitrim. There were 34 additional cases in Donegal.
Consultant in Infectious Diseases, Professor Jack Lambert, says it could be some time before herd immunity is achieved:
Patients were treated in the car park of the largest hospital in Co Antrim yesterday because of the pressure of the pandemic.
The Antrim Area Hospital treated a record number of in-patients with Covid-19 in the last 24 hours with 93 people admitted and another 43 waiting in casualty.
At one stage, 17 ambulances were parked at the hospital with the engines running
In a statement, a spokesperson for the hospital group said: “That is not a satisfactory situation in anybody’s book.”
