MORE THAN 90% of Irish adults are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as the nation's vaccine rollout nears completion.
Before the end of the day, more than seven million doses of the vaccine will have been administered, with 92.5% of the adult population now at least partially vaccinated.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin took to Twitter on Friday morning to celebrate the reaching of "two major milestones" in Ireland's vaccine programme.
"We’ve reached two major milestones in our Vaccine Rollout. 90% of adults over 18 are now fully vaccinated. And by the end of today, 7 million #Covidvaccines will have been administered," he tweeted.
We’ve reached two major milestones in our Vaccine Rollout.
90% of adults over 18 are now fully vaccinated.
And by the end of today, 7 million #Covidvaccines will have been administered.— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) September 10, 2021
Brighter news. Progress on a range of areas related to #COVID19. Today 90% of adults are fully vaccinated with 92.5% partially. Hospitalisations are trending downwards. 329 in hospital, 54 in ICU. Overall testing positivity reducing but high volumes in schools still. @HSELive
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) September 10, 2021
HSE chief Paul Reid echoed the Taoiseach's words.
"Brighter news. Progress on a range of areas related to Covid-19. Today 90% of adults are fully vaccinated with 92.5% partially," he wrote.
"Hospitalisations are trending downwards. 329 in hospital, 54 in ICU. Overall testing positivity reducing but high volumes still in schools."
A few weeks ago, reports emerged saying the government expected to complete its vaccine rollout next month. By mid-October, everyone who is eligible for vaccination should have been offered both of their jabs.
Ireland has one of the highest vaccine uptakes in Europe, something Professor of Immunology at Dublin City University (DCU) Christine Loscher says is helping to keep the general population safe.
"We've regularly seen small increases and decreases, but this is a very definite decline and in line with that a small decline in hospitalisations and numbers in ICU," Professor Loscher said.
"I think it's really interesting that it has come at a time where double vaccinations in the younger age groups, those 18 to 24, and even the 16 to 17-year-olds, have gone way up in the last two weeks."
