Vaccinations are set to be extended to 12 to 15 year olds after a recommendation from NIAC. (National Immunisation Advisory Commitee)
They will require parental consent and the roll-out could start as early as next week.
It's understood NIAC has recommended 12 to 15 year olds be offered vaccines, potentially from as early as next week.
The vaccine portal for 16 and 17 year olds opened this morning.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said they're also making changes to vaccine centres to speed up the roll-out among young people:
''Given that we have about 84% now first dose, or have received their first dose, almost 70% are fully vaccinated, I think its been a very effective programme so far but we want to encourage high participation rates now amobg the remaining age cohorts. To that extent the HSE will be adding walk-in vaccination centres over the weekend.''
Consent of parents or guardians will be needed to vaccinate their children and they will likely have to accompany them to vaccination centres.
The first appointments may be offered next week in the hope of getting this age group fully vaccinated before schools return next month.
