Ireland

Almost 200,000 Covid-19 vaccines administered in Republic of Ireland

Figures from the HSE show that 150,500 people have received their first dose of the vaccine as of yesterday, while a further 49,300 have received their second dose
Figures from the HSE show that 150,500 people have received their first dose of the vaccine as of yesterday, while a further 49,300 have received their second dose Figures from the HSE show that 150,500 people have received their first dose of the vaccine as of yesterday, while a further 49,300 have received their second dose
By James Ward and Press Association

Almost 200,000 Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in the Republic of Ireland, the latest figures show.

Figures from the HSE show that 150,500 people have received their first dose of the vaccine as of yesterday, while a further 49,300 have received their second dose.

It puts the total number of vaccines administered in the Republic of Ireland by the end of January at 199,800.

Today, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly tweeted: "Thanks to the on-going efforts of our brilliant vaccination teams, the Ambulance Service, the Defence Forces and many others right across the HSE, by yesterday we had administered almost 200k vaccines."

The Department of Health in Northern Ireland confirmed this afternoon that 246,421 vaccines have been administered to date, of which 221,809 were first doses and 24,612 were second doses.

Meanwhile, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has claimed the airline industry will bounce back this summer, with people taking holidays abroad in July, August and September.

He said: "I expect it to be a dramatic recovery this summer on the back of the successful vaccine rollout programme in the UK. 50% of their population will be vaccinated by the end of March.

"Europe and Ireland needs to get its act together and catch up.

"But, if 50% of our population is vaccinated by the end of June, which is what we now expect, we will see a strong recovery of travel and summer holidays during the school holidays in July August and September."

Mr O'Leary's comments came as it was revealed that Ryanair expects to post a full-year loss of nearly one billion euro.

Today the airline announced it anticipates a net loss of 850 million euro to 950 million euro for its 2021 financial year, which ends on March 31.

Mr O'Leary said that once the majority of the population of people over 50 have been vaccinated, he expects international travel will pick up this summer.

He told RTÉ's Morning Ireland: "Summer 21, we will still see millions of people travelling to the beaches of Europe in July, August and September, when everybody over 50 will have been vaccinated, and the risk of sickness, hospitalisations and deaths from Covid will have significantly receded."

But Mr O'Leary was rebuked for his comments by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Simon Coveney said: "I listened to that interview, Michael O'Leary was his usual bullish self.

"But to be perfectly honest with you, the Government will take their public health advice from the chief medical officer and Nphet, not from Ryanair or Michael O'Leary.

"We need to have consistent and cautious messages now, in terms of protecting the public from the spread of this virus.

"That will be our focus, not any pressure points linked to international travel or commercial interests.

"Michael O'Leary has a job to do, to protect Ryanair's interests, and to get people travelling again.

"But we have a job to do to prioritise public health first, and that's what we'll do."

Read more: AstraZeneca to supply nine million more vaccine doses during first quarter of 2021, EU says