Around 3,000 GPs and practice nurses are receiving their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine today.
The Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs are being given at hubs in Dublin, Galway, Portlaoise and Sligo.
HSE CEO Paul Reid visited the teams in Sligo today where around 500 of the healthcare workers were vaccinated.
He said there was a "lovely atmosphere" at the centre in IT Sligo, commending the "great cooperation by everyone to make this happen".
The latest figures show over 261,000 coronavirus inoculations have been administered across the country, with 171,000 people receiving their first dose.
The rollout of vaccines to over-85s will start at dozens of GP practices tomorrow.
Spent time today with the vaccination teams in the centre in Sligo, @itsligo. A lovely atmosphere as 500 GPs & Practice Nurses are vaccinated there. A great cooperation by everyone to make this happen. Thank you all, @HSELive @IMO_IRL @ICGPnews @defenceforces @AmbulanceNAS pic.twitter.com/dP5VQGpfHC
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) February 14, 2021
Speaking to Newstalk, Monaghan-based doctor Ilona Duffy explained that some in that age group will have to wait.
Only a small number of practices, around 80, will receive their fist deliveries this week, while GPs also don't know which vaccine they're getting, which also causes difficulties, she added.
"We've looked online and it looks like our next delivery for vaccinations will be Thursday fortnight so we have over a fortnight to wait," she said.
"It's going to take time, and that's their first dose, and then their second dose will obviously be four weeks' later and they'll return for that.
"I think once we get people in for the first part, it will be easy because we'll automatically be able to give them a date for the next one."
Dr Duffy added that GP practices tend to see a week in advance what's happening on the ground in terms of coronavirus, and said there is reason for optimism.
Main image: A mass vaccination centre at the Helix DCU, Dublin. Photograph: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie
