Pharmacies are ready to vaccinate thousands of young people using AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson jabs.
NIAC has advised the two vaccines can be used by anyone aged between 18 and 40.
Pharmacists Ready "To Make A Real Difference"
NIAC has recommended both the AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson vaccines can be given to people aged 18 to 40.
Pharmacies have already given out 6,000 dose in recent weeks.
The former president of the Irish Pharmacy Union Kathy Maher says the new advice could significantly speed things up.
"In the last flu season we administered 25% of the vaccines."
Adding to that she says, "and we know we could have done more if the supply was there."
"We can now make a real difference to communities around the country," with the Covid vaccine, she says.
Astra Zeneca Gap May Be Halved
It’s also expected the gap between getting the first and second AstraZeneca doses could be halved from 8 to 4 weeks.
But University College Cork professor Liam Fanning says there are some concerns around this.
"We understand from the data so far that the Astra Zeneca immunity improves over time."
"So that's, in part, why the EMA gave it a 56 day gap [between doses]."
