Around 83% of 80 year olds and over have been vaccinated through the GP programme.
The news comes as the number of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Northern Ireland approaches the quarter of a million mark.
Mobile vaccination teams have administered first doses in all of Northern Ireland’s care homes – and second doses to over 80% of the homes.
Online booking opened last Wednesday night for 65-69 year-olds to book their vaccination appointments. In the first 30 hours of the online portal, 39,825 people had booked their vaccination jabs.
A further significant consignment of the Astra Zeneca vaccine is due in NI next week, for immediate distribution to GPs.
And a large-scale UK trial for a new coronavirus vaccine indicates it to be 89.3% effective against the virus. The Novavax vaccine is expected to be available across the UK in the second half of this year, if approved for use by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Nearly 500 participants were recruited from Northern Ireland for the trial which was led locally by researchers from Queen’s University Belfast and the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.
Health Minister Robin Swann said great strides have been made.
“There will inevitably be frustrations along the way. We will get to everyone – we are getting to thousands more each day,” he added.
GPs will be focusing on the 70 plus age group with the Astra Zeneca vaccine , while the seven regional vaccination centres will in parallel be offering offer Pfizer vaccination appointments to 65-69 year-olds.
The plans are to offer everyone over 65 in NI a vaccine by the end of February.
People who are Clinical Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) are also a priority for February.