The Health Service Executive has said that its advice is that people over 70 should get the PfizerBionTech and Moderna vaccines, rather than the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The first of the 400,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine due in a few weeks were expected to be used by GPs, to begin vaccinating older people in mid February, starting with those aged over 85.
It is easier to handle as it does not need to be kept in very cold conditions. The AstraZeneca vaccine will now be reserved for younger people.
However, Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE told RTÉ's News at One the view is that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines afford greater protection for older people.