UPDATE: Tánaiste says the roll-out of vaccines to over-70s may be delayed

It comes as the State avoids using the AstraZeneca vaccine in older people.

Instead over-70s will be given the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines - which presents logistical challenges as they're harder to store. 

The vaccines taskforce met this morning to consider what changes to the vaccination timeline might come on the back of this.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar says there will be delays for the over-70s:

"I'm advised that the vaccination of over 85's will begin in the middle of February as planned, but because we will have to use the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, of which there is less supply as opposed to the AstraZeneca vaccine, the rollout will be slower,. I can't give you exact timeframes and dates on that, at this stage, but it will allow us to speed up the vaccine programme for healthcare workers and high risk people who are under 70"