There have been 2,125 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Ireland today - the highest daily number since January.
The five-day moving average of new cases now stands at 1,880.
Latest figures from the HSE show there are 259 patients with COVID-19 in Irish hospitals, up from 251 yesterday.
Of the patients currently in hospital, 54 are in intensive care.
In a series of tweets today, NPHET’s Professor Philip Nolan says there has been ‘extraordinary’ vaccine uptake in Ireland.
However, he said time is still needed for the vaccines to work.
#VaccinesWork. We have seen extraordinary uptake of vaccination in Ireland, and this is making us safer, but we need to give the vaccines time to work. The message: get your vaccine, get your second dose, and wait the 7-14 days they need to build your immunity. 1/7 pic.twitter.com/giFJ7G5OD6
— Professor Philip Nolan (@PhilipNolan_SFI) August 21, 2021
He said: “Yes, over 90% of adults have had their first dose, and over 80% have completed their vaccination regimen, but only about 75% of adults are two weeks after their final dose.
“25% of the adult population not yet fully vaccinated is enough for a large wave of disease.
“We should see incidence stabilise as the current vaccination programme finishes and these vaccines take full effect through August and into September, but the trajectory between now and then is uncertain and requires we minimise the risks of any social contact.”
He noted the majority of cases being reported are in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated young people.
However, he noted the current high incidence rate means there’s a “large force of infection” - leading to a rising number of cases in older vaccinated adults and in children.
Walk-in vaccine centres are open again this weekend, with some centres now also offering second doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
