Taoiseach Micheál Martin sets date for when Ireland can expect a Covid-19 vaccine
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Taoiseach Micheál Martin sets date for when Ireland can expect a Covid-19 vaccine

THE TAOISEACH Micheál Martin has revealed he has been told that a Covid-19 vaccine is likely to be available by Spring of next year – but Ireland could be waiting a little longer for it to arrive. 

Mr Martin said he has been told by Mike Ryan from the World Health Organization (WHO) that a vaccine will arrive by April but could take time to be rolled out. 

As a result, he is expecting the impact of coronavirus to be felt for much of 2021. 

Despite this, he is calling on the Irish public to keep faith with the restrictions in place and have faith that the scientists and researchers working on a vaccine "will get on top of this, as they have done with other viruses". 

He told the Irish Mirror: “I think we could get a vaccine, we may, by the middle of the year. 

“The full impact of the virus will be with us for the full year, i would think, that's my view and that's a sobering thought.” 

Martin added: “That's not definite I was given a date around March/April, could be potentially a moment when that would crystallise but again there would be an issue around manufacturing. 

The comments come a day after the Taoiseach announced the introduction of new restrictions in Dublin following an increase in coronavirus cases in the Irish capital. 

Martin previously warned that without further "urgent and decisive action" case numbers in Dublin were in danger of reaching the levels seen during the first peak of the pandemic.