Ireland could start producing Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine as early as the end of this year, Independent.ie reported.

Output of doses at Pfizer’s plant in Clondalkin, West Dublin, could arrive before 2022, health minister Stephen Donnelly said, stressing that this prospect was subject to the usual planning and regulatory approval, while Ireland would have a vaccine programme for the next two years.

Donnelly said there had also been "very encouraging advances technologically" with Pfizer’s vaccine, while production at the Clondalkin plant would create 75 jobs.

It means much easier storage than the super-low temperatures used to store the vaccine to this point, he said.