The head of the HSE says any change in the priority list for Covid-19 vaccines will be limited.
It's also confirmed just over 2 per cent of the population have now received the first dose.
In the Dáil this morning, the Health Minister confirmed carers employed by the HSE or private companies will be in the second priority group - with family carers having to wait longer.
But in his latest letter to Stephen Donnelly, the Chief Medical Officer noted a "concerning new trend" over Covid outbreaks in homecare services.
So far, just under 122,000 people have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
That includes 73,000 frontline healthcare workers and nearly 49 thousand residents and staff of nursing homes.
The HSE says there are now 362 outbreaks in residential care facilities - with 1,800 staff on covid related leave.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority says there have been 257 suspected side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine to date.
