Northern Ireland's Covid vaccine timeline: When can I get the jab?

There are seven fixed Trust vaccination sites across Northern Ireland:

• Belfast Trust - Royal Victoria Hospital
• South Eastern Trust - Ulster Hospital, Dundonald
• Southern Trust - South Lakes Leisure Centre, Craigavon
• Northern Trust - Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena
  
• Western Trust - Foyle Arena, Londonderry, Omagh Leisure Centre and Lakeside Leisure Centre, Enniskillen

Phase one of the programme began on December 8, delivering the jab to care home residents and staff, health and social care staff, and those aged over 80.

Mobile vaccination teams have been visiting care homes (there are 483 in NI) and, to January 6, 91% of facilities have been visited, with more than 90% of residents and 80% of staff received vaccinated.

Phase two of the programme, estimated to begin next month, will see those aged 65 to 75 and those under 65 who have an underlying health condition that puts them at higher risk vaccinated.

Beginning in the Spring, phase three will include all those aged 60 and over, 55 and over and 50 and over, who have not already been vaccinated.

The fourth phase will see a mass vaccination programme across Northern Ireland, with the rest of the population receiving their jab. This is due to take place in the summer. The fifth and final stage of the programme has yet to be agreed.

In addition to health and social care and primary-care based staff, teams of vaccinators from other professional backgrounds have been train to administer the jab.

Some 1,395 people have also submitted applications to assist with the programme.

The primary care-based part of the scheme began on January 4 and involves 321 practices across Northern Ireland. As the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine needs to be stored at an extremely cold temperature, it has been agreed that the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab would be used in GP settings.

A DoH spokesperson said: "The Northern Ireland model for vaccine deployment has been designed to be pragmatic, agile and flexible.

"Plans have been developed in partnership with health and social care bodies and in conjuncture with the Emergency Civil Contingencies Team to ensure the involvement of relevant departments, agencies, local councils and the police."

As of Monday evening, a total of 91,954 vaccines have been administered in Northern Ireland, according to the DoH. Of this total, 68,664 people have had their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, while 9,341 have received the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab.

Belfast Telegraph