The over-70s will be among the first groups to be given Covid-19 vaccinations, alongside long-term care residents and frontline healthcare workers, under plans to be considered by Cabinet on Tuesday.
It is understood that the first priority group identified to receive the vaccine is those aged 65 and above who are resident in long-term care institutions.
The second group will be frontline healthcare workers with direct patient contact, followed by the over-70s.
The plan is to immunise this final category in phases beginning with those aged over 85, followed by those aged 80-84, then 75-79 year-olds, and finally those between 70-74.
The plan, which was drawn up by the Department of Health and the National Immunisation Advisory Council, and approved by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet), will be brought to Cabinet by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.