Vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 could start next month

The HSE says it could start vaccinating children aged 5-11 from the end of December - if the rollout is approved by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee.

CEO Paul Reid said he welcomed today's decision from the European Medicines Agency to approve the Pfizer vaccine for those aged 5 to 11, and they were now awaiting the NIAC recommendations.

He said delivery of the Pfizer vaccine for children right across Europe was scheduled towards the end of December but in meantime a team was mobilising a plan for the rollout.

Damien McCallion, HSE Lead for the Vaccination Programme, said that there are approximately 480,000 children aged between 5 to 11 in Ireland.