Over 40's could book Covid vaccine this week

Over 40's could be including in Northern Ireland's vaccine programme this week, according to the Health Minister.

It's after a mass vaccination centre opened at the SSE Arena in Belfast on Monday morning.

The SSE Arena will have the capacity to administer jabs to 40,000 people a week.

A slowdown in the UK's vaccine supply lines will see the centre processing around 11,000 people a week initially, with the numbers ramping up as more AstraZeneca jabs become available.

Health Minister Robin Swann hopes the over 40's cohort will be able to book their vaccine this week, depending on supply.

The SSE Arena is the home of the Belfast Giants ice hockey team, and prior to the pandemic was the region's main venue for indoor concerts.

Its opening as a mass vaccination centre was originally expected to be accompanied by an expansion of the vaccine programme to take in the 40-49 age cohort.

That move has been delayed by a number of weeks due to the recent issues with the delivery of UK-wide orders of AstraZeneca jabs from overseas.

AstraZeneca and Pfizer jabs are currently being administered in Northern Ireland, with Moderna doses expected to be added to the rollout in the coming weeks.

As of Monday, 855,488 vaccines had been administered in Northern Ireland, with 730,471 first doses and 125,017 second doses.

The region is on course to offer first jabs to the entire adult population, 1.4 million, by July.

Gary Davidson from Lisbane in Co Down was the first to get a vaccine in the SSE Arena on Monday morning.

The 55-year-old was last at the venue with his sons to watch a motocross event.

"I feel very proud to see what's going on in the SSE in Belfast,'' he said.

"I feel as if I am protected and hopefully won't be able to pass it on to relatives.''

Mr Davidson added: "I didn't think I would ever be here for this, but I'm very impressed by what's going on in the Health Department.''

No further deaths of people who previously tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland were reported by the Department of Health on Monday.

Another 65 confirmed cases of the virus were recorded in the last 24-hour reporting period.

On Monday morning, there were 129 Covid-positive confirmed inpatients in hospital, of whom 17 were in ICUs.