More than 21,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are due to arrive in Ireland this weekend as preparations for a wider rollout have been finalised.
The Health Service Executive said a similar-sized batch will most likely be delivered next weekend.
Under that plan drafted by the HSE, from Monday week the vast majority of the almost half a million people aged over 70 will be able to get the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccine directly from their GP.
The vaccines will have to be used up within five days of leaving the deep freeze vaccine storage facility in Dublin where they will be kept.