The Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 vaccine has been approved by the The European Medicines Agency
It says the single dose vaccine can be administered for those aged 18 years and over.
The European Commission says it will move quickly to grant approval for use in the EU.
📢 EMA has just recommended granting a conditional marketing authorisation for #COVID19vaccine Janssen to prevent #COVID19 in people from 18 years of age.
👉 https://t.co/j7jetH1Tbx pic.twitter.com/cKGKujrqYp— EU Medicines Agency (@EMA_News) March 11, 2021
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly's welcomed the move and says Ireland has an advance purchase agreement for 600,000 doses between April and June.
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar described it as another weapon in our artillery.
The shot is the fourth vaccine to be approved in the EU following Pfizer/Bio-N-Tech, Moderna and AstraZeneca.
The EMA is also currently reviewing the Russian-made "Sputnik V" Vaccine.