The one millionth dose of a Covid-19 vaccine has been administered in Ireland today.
Health officials have also reported 400 new cases and 7 patient deaths.
The HSE has also confirmed between 180,000 and 190,000 doses will be given across the country next week.
But it'll be late this month or early next month before 250,000 are being administered on a weekly basis.
HSE chief executive Paul Reid says the programme will ramp up next week.
"We'll continue our focus on the over 70s," he said, while confirming that the 80-84s are close to completed (second doses).
He also says that doses continue to be given to high risk groups over the next week.
💉 HSE confirms the 1 millionth dose of a #COVID19 vaccine has now been administered
— Stephen Murphy (@StephenMNews) April 8, 2021
Covid 19 Figures Continue To Drop Slowly
The 5-day average of cases is still dropping slowly, it's now 408.
So you can compare that against last week's number, which was 536.
Today's cases are in Dublin (162), Kildare (61), Cork (26) and Galway (21).
Meanwhile the rest are spread across 19 more counties.
this is very funny considering the people working in the shops won’t be vaccinated https://t.co/HcrOMabLUB
— jodie (@yupfinglas) April 8, 2021
Vaccine "Bonus" Could Come Into Play
The health minister says he's 'open' to giving more freedom to people who have been fully vaccinated.
Fully vaccinated people may no longer have to isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a Covid case.
It's one of several proposals being considered today by NPHET.
Health minister Stephen Donnelly says the government could go even further.
He referenced a pilot programme in Israel, where the idea of concerts for those who are vaccinated are being trialed.
However he says there's nothing concrete at cabinet level just yet.
