IRELAND'S vaccination programme is moving from strength to strength and is expected to progress past the point of the UK's in the coming days, according to Leo Varadkar.
The Tánaiste says he expects Ireland's rollout to overtake Britain's some time next week, despite the fact that - for a time - the UK's was the fastest rollout in the world.
Taking to Twitter, Varadkar revealed that 68.9% of Irish adults were now fully vaccinated, compared to 70.5% of British adults.
!Circa 66.9 per cent of people 16-plus now fully vaccinated in Ireland or roughly 68.9 per cent over 18. That compares with 70.5 per cent in the UK," he tweeted on Tuesday evening.
"We should overtake them in next week or so, well done".
Circa 66.9% of ppl 16+ now fully vaccinated in Ireland or roughly 68.9% over 18+. That compares with 70.5% in the UK. We should overtake them in next week or so. Well done @hselive 👏 https://t.co/4SXyBDJJwO
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) July 27, 2021
As of Monday, more than three million people in Ireland have received at least one jab, while 2.6 million are fully vaccinated.
While the UK has obviously administered far more total vaccines due to its higher population, Ireland's programme has been picking up pace over the past month, allowing it to catch up.
Supply issues plagued Ireland's rollout in Spring, but the country now has a well-oiled, efficient system in place which will hopefully be able to offer every adult in the country both jabs before the end of September.
Ireland's focus now turn to children. The vaccine portal has been opened up to youngsters aged 16 and above, and the Government has just announced that 12 to 15-year-olds will also be offered the vaccine.
Earlier today, Minister Stephen Donnelly confirmed that vaccines for children will not mandatory.
