Rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Ireland

The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is underway. Supplies of vaccines are in production but they are limited at the moment. Vaccines are being given as soon as possible after they arrive in Ireland. Our priorities are safety and working to protect people as quickly as we can.

People who are most at risk from COVID-19 are being vaccinated first.

You do not need to contact us to get your COVID-19 vaccine. We will let you know when you can register for your vaccine through your healthcare team, news or public advertising.

Groups currently being vaccinated

The people currently being vaccinated against COVID-19 are:

Next groups to be vaccinated

After people over 85 have been vaccinated, we will continue to vaccinate the rest of group 3 at different stages.

COVID-19 vaccination will be offered to the next groups as soon as possible.

See the full list of provisional vaccine groups on gov.ie

Because supplies of vaccines are limited at the moment, it is not possible to give an exact time for the vaccination of the next groups. We understand this is disappointing as so many people are looking forward to getting their vaccine.

We will publish more information about these later phases when they have been agreed. The rollout of vaccines will only be limited by supply. There will be no build-up of stock.

Vaccination progress updates

See the latest updates on numbers of vaccines given to date. This includes details on which group people are in and which vaccines are being used.

See the latest figures on the vaccination programme GeoHive dashboard

Group 1

People aged 65 and older who live in long-term care facilities

People over 65 who live in long-term care facilities were the first group to be offered a COVID-19 vaccine. This is because they have a greater risk of serious illness if they get COVID-19.

The schedule for long-term care facilities will change from week to week. Vaccination may be delayed if there is a COVID-19 outbreak in a facility. Our vaccination teams give the vaccines to residents and staff at each of the locations. Vaccinators make 2 separate visits, 4 weeks apart.

How you will get your vaccine

Residents will get their vaccine through their home.

Group 2

Frontline healthcare workers

Frontline healthcare workers were the second group to be offered COVID-19 vaccines. This is because they have a greater risk of becoming infected with COVID-19.

We are now vaccinating at hospital and community services sites around the country, and at special clinics for GPs and their practice staff.

How you will get your vaccine

Frontline healthcare workers will get their vaccine through their workplace.

Find out how to register for your COVID-19 vaccine if you are a frontline healthcare worker

Group 3

People aged 85 and older

People aged 85 and older living in the community are the first people in group 3 to be vaccinated. This is because they are at greater risk from COVID-19.

How you will get your vaccine

If you are over 85, you do not need to register for your vaccine. Your GP will contact you when your vaccine is available.

Most people in this group will be vaccinated at their own GP surgery. Some GPs who work in smaller practices will join together. Some people will be invited to attend a vaccination centre.

If you do not have a GP, call the COVID-19 helpline for advice.

We will make arrangements for anyone in this group who has trouble travelling or cannot leave home to get their vaccine.

People aged 70 and older

After people over 85 are vaccinated, we will start vaccinating the rest of group 3.

Vaccinations will be offered in this order:

People aged 80 and over.
People aged 75 and over.
People aged 70 and over.

We will let you know when it’s your turn to get your COVID-19 vaccine. You will get an invitation from your healthcare team, news or public advertising.

Later phases of the COVID-19 vaccination programme

Later phases will focus on the next groups.

The next groups to be offered COVID-19 vaccines are:

other healthcare workers not in direct patient contact (group 4)
people aged 65 to 69, prioritising people with medical conditions which put them at high risk of severe disease (group 5)

Conditions which make you a priority member of group 5 include:

chronic heart disease, including hypertension with cardiac involvement
chronic respiratory disease, including asthma requiring continuous or repeated use of systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission
type 1 and 2 diabetes
chronic neurological disease
chronic kidney disease
body mass index (BMI) greater than 40
immunosuppression due to disease or treatment
chronic liver disease
cancer
Down syndrome
having received an organ transplant
sickle cell disease

See the full list of provisional vaccine groups on gov.ie

The provisional list of groups for vaccination may be changed by Government based on new information or changes in vaccine supply. Our priority is to protect the people who are most likely to have a poor outcome or die if they get COVID-19.

Where you will be vaccinated

You may be vaccinated through a:

vaccination centre
GP surgery
community pharmacy

This will be done by qualified and trained healthcare workers, including hospital doctors, community medical officers, nurses, GPs and pharmacists.

You do not need to contact us to get your COVID-19 vaccine. We will let you know when you can register for your vaccine through your healthcare team, news or public advertising.

Vaccination centres

37 HSE vaccination centres have been confirmed. Many people will be offered their vaccination in these centres and you will be able to register for your vaccine online.

Each vaccination centre varies in size. They have been selected based on population density, ease of access, public transport and parking. There will be at least one vaccination centre in every county.

COVID-19 vaccines being offered

There are 3 COVID-19 vaccines currently licensed for use in Ireland.

These are the:

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine (also known as “Comirnaty”)
Moderna vaccine
AstraZeneca vaccine