Government confident 90% of adults will be vaccinated by September

The Government is confident that 90 per cent of adults will be vaccinated by September, a level of vaccination considered “significant” in allowing the reopening of sectors that have remained closed or subject to severe restrictions.

With 75 per cent of the population aged 16 now vaccinated, and with the vaccine portal now opening for 12-15 year olds, Government sources said Ireland would be in a strongly advantageous position compared with other EU States by September in terms of the total percentage of population having received the vaccine.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on Sunday the Government would be presenting a comprehensive roadmap outlining how it intends to reopen the remainder of society and manage Covid-19 during the winter period.

“Because of the high vaccination rates which will be attained by then, the approach will be different,” he said.

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“The reopening of schools is a priority, as well as the return of students to further and higher education campuses.”

The Government subcommittee on Covid-19 will continue to meet during the summer break with the next meeting scheduled for August 19th.

Timetable

The new roadmap – which is expected to address a possible timetable for the reopening of live performance venues and nightclubs – is due to be finalised in early September.

However, some Government backbench TDs have called on the Taoiseach and his Ministers to move more quickly and make early announcements on reopenings, as well as removing any “inconsistencies” in guidelines.

Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen said the vaccination programme had been successful but the Government needed to “get back to the drawing board” in relation to some of the guidelines and regulations.

“It needs to revise regulations on Communions, Confirmations and weddings to make them more coherent and sensible and regain the confidence of the people after the controversy with the outdoor event in the Merrion Hotel,” he said.

“It must now also put a timetable in place for the entertainment industry outdoors, and a phased return, with a proviso, for indoor entertainment,” he said.