Coronavirus: Number of Covid-19 jabs given in NI reaches 91,954

A total of 91,954 vaccines had been administered in Northern Ireland by Monday evening, the Health Department has said.

Of those, 68,664 have had a first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with 13,949 receiving a second.

A total of 9,341 people have received the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

Care workers in Northern Ireland who provide services to ill or elderly patients living at home can now book an appointment to get a Covid-19 vaccine.

The booking process opened on Monday and the jab is available immediately to health trust care workers and those employed in the independent sector.

Chief social worker Sean Holland encouraged care workers "to avail of the vaccine as soon as they can".

The department said on Monday that the vaccination programme was a "massive and long-term logistical undertaking that is progressing well".

It said there was "much more work to be done and the programme will be scaled up rapidly as more vaccines become available".

• When will you be eligible for the Covid vaccine?

• No, it won't alter your DNA - vaccine rumours debunked

• How do the Covid vaccines compare?

Last week GPs in Northern Ireland began to provide vaccines to people aged over 80, with the aim of offering the jab to everyone in that age group by the end of January.

Health officials have told BBC News NI that the past 48 hours were the busiest for hospitals since the start of the pandemic, with appeals made to off duty-staff to go to work to help ease the pressure.

'Bravery, skill and commitment'

In a message to care workers, Mr Holland said he was "immensely grateful to all who work in this sector for your dedication".

About 74,000 people in Northern Ireland - including 84-year-old John Grey - have received a Covid-19 vaccine

"Throughout the pandemic you have shown bravery, skill and commitment," he added.

"Those in receipt of homecare are often amongst the most vulnerable in our communities and you have been there for them throughout this pandemic."

He said care workers would receive an initial dose of the vaccine as part of the plan by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to protect more people sooner.

The Department of Health said dental, pharmacy and optometry workers would be offered the chance to book a vaccine shortly.

Health officials are working with pharmacies to enable them to "play a full and active part" in providing vaccines to the public.