Dublin grandmother Annie Lynch has become the first person in the Republic to receive the coronavirus vaccine.
The 79-year-old grandmother of 10 from the Liberties got the jab at St James's Hospital this afternoon.
Vaccines will also be administered in Beaumont, Cork and Galway University Hospitals today as the rollout gets underway.
An ICU nurse and junior doctor are also among those getting the vaccine today.
— HSE Ireland (@HSELive) December 29, 2020
Around 2,000 vaccinations are expected to take place in the hospital settings with rollout set to begin in more than 580 nursing homes around the country from next week.
The Chair of COVID vaccine taskforce, Professor Brian MacCraith said Annie's is a "great story."
"Born in Christchurch, grew up in the Liberties, she has been in hospital for a number of weeks," he said. "Sadly, her husband passed away a couple of weeks before her admission.
"She has ten grandchildren, one of whom actually works in the ICU department in St James’s so that has a nice turn to it as well.
"I am told that Annie is delighted to be getting the vaccine and feels very, very privileged to be the very first person in Ireland to receive the vaccine."
An inspiring and emotional moment. Annie Lynch, 79yr old grandmother from Drimnagh, who grew up in the Liberties in Dublin, is the first person in Ireland to receive the Covid vaccine in St James's Hospital. We all now share Annie's great hope for 2021. @HSELive #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/tzx9T9QbWe
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) December 29, 2020
In a tweet this morning, HSE chief Paul Reid said the first jabs represent a “great beacon of light.”
“Let’s all galvanise and unite behind this,” he said.
“It will take time but stay positive, stay safe, stick with us and we will get there.”
