IRISH health experts have warned that the recent spike in Covid-19 case numbers could potentially disrupt the roll-out of the nation's vaccination programme.
On Tuesday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that Ireland would be receiving 10,000 doses of the Pfzier vaccine this week, and that the aim was to begin vaccinating people on December 30 or 31.
However, in light of the recent sharp spike in Covid cases, there are fears that the vaccine roll-out could be hampered due to pressure on Ireland's health service.
The Government warned yesterday that there could be as many as 2,000 cases per day before New Year's Eve, and should hospitalisations continue to rise, focus may have to be taken away from vaccinations and put back on getting the virus under control.
Due to the "extraordinary" growth rate of the virus in Ireland at the moment, and the possibility of further havoc being wreaked by the new strain of Covid-19 currently spreading throughout London and the south-east of England, the Taoiseach announced that the country would be heading back into lockdown.
Just after Christmas, inter-county travel will be banned, hospitality will be closed and household visits will be strictly limited in an attempt to get the situation under control.
The restrictions are set to run until January 12, when a review will take place.
Though on Wednesday, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar warned that the measures could remain in place until March.
"It will probably be towards the end of February or early March before a critical mass of the population is vaccinated and I think we need to operate on the basis that these restrictions will be in place until then," he said.
