The HSE National Director for the vaccine roll-out has urged people to be "patient" with pharmacies with regard to booking vaccine appointments, and pharmacies ability to offer vaccines.
Speaking on RTÉ's News At One programme, Damien McCallion said that there are "limited supplies" of the one-shot Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine, as well as the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Mr McCallion also said that the HSE is anticipating confirmation over the weekend of additional supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine, adding that 280,000 doses of the Janssen vaccine are expected in August.
It comes after Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly earlier announced an expansion of the vaccination roll-out programme to younger people, which will see the 18-34 age group being able to 'opt in' for Janssen or AstraZeneca for earlier vaccination.
From next Monday, 750 pharmacies can begin administering the Janssen vaccine to people in the 18-34 age groups, who have opted in.
"Be patient particularly with the pharmacies that we're going to be delivering this. There is a limited supply of the Janssen at the moment also in relation to AstraZeneca we have around 100,000.
(Pic: Rolling News)
"But we are anticipating over this weekend to get confirmation of additional supply for AstraZeneca, and confirmation for Janssen.
"In August we are expecting 280,000 but the timing of those may still result in people having to be patient with the pharmacist."
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime programme, pharmacists described receiving numerous contacts from members of the public after this morning's announcement.
"To say today has been busy has been an understatement", said Jonathan Morrissey, Supervising Pharmacist and Director at Marron's Pharmacist in Clane.
He said the pharmacy has received 1,500 online applications for vaccines since early morning.
Kate O'Connell, Covid-19 Vaccination Lead Pharmacist at Rathgar Pharmacy, told the same programme that staff were "overwhelmed" with the level of interest in vaccination.
"It was one of those days that I don't think anyone working in community pharmacy will forget for a long time."
Getting vaccines to pharmacists a 'gradual process'
Earlier, Mr McCallion also urged people to remember that "it will be a gradual process" of getting vaccines to pharmacists and their administration.
"It will be a gradual process just to be clear, so then people may register this week. For pharmacists the vaccine comes in blocks of 100 or 50 so they will have a limited amount, and we're obviously trying to get a good geographical spread around the country to the pharmacies that have agreed to participate," he said.
Mr McCallion added that people should be aware of their "choices" on vaccines.
"There is a constraint in terms of total capacity. We have 200,000 vaccines for July, and we have a further delivery in August, so that will take time but I'm also flagging that there are three choices for people.
"The preferred options are still the mRNA vaccines and we've set up the times for those which are early August and mid-August.
"And then other two options are through AstraZeneca which will be available through our vaccination centres on site, and Janssen probably towards the middle or end of the week."
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