For the first time, the HSE can say it has delivered over 100-thousand Covid-19 vaccine doses in the space of a week.

After days of embarrassing revelations over the Beacon Hospital's vaccine clinics, HSE boss Paul Reid says the programme is "heading to a new phase".

The latest data on the vaccine drive shows a record number of shots were given on Thursday -- close to 27 and a half thousand.

That brings the seven-day total up to 106-thousand doses.

Health service boss Paul Reid says the intention is to vaccinate a similar number this week.

The target set is for between 95-thousand and 105-thousand doses to be delivered.

The bulk of them,  75- or 80-thousand, are to be administered at 540 GP surgeries, mostly to over-seventies.

Between 15- and 20-thousand medically vulnerable patients are also due to be injected.

While around 5,000 people in long-term care facilities will get a dose, along with the last appointments for health service staff.

The health service is expecting to take delivery of a million vaccines in April -- with a "significant" consignment due in from AstraZeneca in the days ahead.

Since December there have been over three quarters of a million injections -- with 211-thousand people having received their second shot.