Health Minister: We're 'on our way' to a million doses in NI

More than 600,000 vaccine doses have been injected in Northern Ireland.

The total is significantly ahead of the schedule followed by planners of the massive logistics effort, Health Minister Robin Swann said.

Health trust Covid-19 vaccination centres have this week begun inoculating those aged 60 to 64, as well as carers.

Mr Swann said: "I know the huge amount of planning and hard work that has gone into delivering this highly complex programme and I want to thank all of our vaccinators, administrators and volunteers who are making this happen.

"Every jab takes us further down the pathway towards a better and safer future.

"We are on our way to a million doses and very soon we will be rolling out the programme to all adults through the mass vaccination phase of the programme.''

The latest running total shows 609,798 vaccines administered.

Of these, 568,011 are first doses and 41,787 second doses.

To date 44,000 people who are clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) have been jabbed.

GP practices are also vaccinating carers who are known to doctors and they are also making good progress in the vaccination of people on their patient lists who are either CEV or clinically vulnerable to the virus.

Almost 123,000 health and social care staff have been vaccinated.

This includes trust-employed staff and independent staff.

Patricia Donnelly, head of the vaccination programme, said: "This has been another outstanding week for our vaccination teams and with a good supply of vaccine to hand, we are moving forward at pace.

"I would urge all who are eligible but who have not stepped forward yet to make their appointments as soon as possible.

"In the coming weeks community pharmacists will join the vaccination efforts, working in tandem with GPs and the regional vaccination centres to ensure the vaccine is even more accessible to people of all ages right across Northern Ireland.

"In addition, we will receive a boost in supplies of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine which means we can use it in some of our regional vaccination centres, as well as in GP practices and pharmacies.

"This is very welcome news.''