The green light is expected in the coming days to offer both the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca Covid-19 jabs to people aged 40-49 paving the way for vaccination of this group to start this month. It was originally believed the recommendation would be confined to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine with the cut off at age 45. Asked when people in their 40s can register for a vaccine, HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said yesterday: “We will be announcing that later on in the week. He said the experience so far is that around 80-85pc of people who apply for a vaccine register on the portal rather than over the phone. Vaccination has already been credited with dramatically reducing levels of serious illness, hospitalisations and death among older age groups.

Source: Irish Independent May 17, 2021 01:31 UTC