Ireland could offer COVID jabs to adolescents aged 12-15 as early as next month after opening its programme to 16 and 17-year olds on Tuesday.

Ireland's highly successful COVID vaccine programme is running at one of the fastest rates in Europe, with almost 70 percent of its adult population fully vaccinated and more than 84 percent partially protected with the first of two doses.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which has approved both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID vaccines for use in teenagers, has encouraged EU member states to offer vaccines to those as young as 12.

The UK only offers jabs to adolescents aged 12-15 if they are at increased risk from the virus.

The Irish government hopes those aged 12 to 15 will be fully vaccinated within the first half of September, foreign minister Simon Coveney told national broadcaster RTE.

The broadcaster reported that vaccination of a quarter of a million people aged 12-15 could begin as early as next week so it can be completed before the start of the new school term.

(With input from agencies)