More than 1,000 pharmacies across the nation are to begin administering Covid-19 shots this week.

Pharmacies will begin receiving doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson today, which are to be administered to people over 50 who have not yet received a vaccine.

It’s believed that close to 140,000 over the age of 50 are yet to get a vaccine and these people can benefit by getting a shot in their local pharmacy rather than registering online and attending mass vaccination centres.

HSE Chief Paul Reid said the initial delivery will see 60,000 vaccines distributed in batches of 50. The Pfizer vaccine will then become part of the pharmacy vaccination effort.

People who wish to use this service must make an appointment with a participating pharmacy, rather than booking through the online vaccination portal.

The vaccination will take place in a room in the pharmacy and people must wait in the pharmacy for 15 minutes after the shot to be monitored for side effects.

The vaccination portal is expected to open for 30-39 year-olds this week. Currently, everyone over the age of 40 can register for a vaccine on the portal online.