Covid-19: Irish vaccine programme to include 12-15-year-olds

The Covid-19 vaccination programme in the Republic of Ireland is to be extended to include 12 to 15 year-olds. The recommendation was made to the Irish government by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). Earlier, Taoiseach (Irish PM) Micheál Martin said there would be further advice from the NIAC on the matter. He said it represented a 'significant opening up' of the vaccination programme to younger people. Mr Martin said it had been a 'very effective' programme to date and the government wanted to encourage 'heightened participation' among the remaining age groups.