Appointments for monkeypox jabs are fully booked after 11 vaccination centres opened around the country, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has said.
The HSE said demand for the inoculation was “high” and that the next available appointments would not be available until the start of next month.
Vaccination centres in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Wexford and Portlaoise opened on Monday.
There is a limited supply of vaccines available as estimates suggest around 6,000 people may be at heightened risk of infection in Ireland.
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It is hoped that high priority groups will be inoculated by the end of the year in line with advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
Gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (gbMSM) are among those classed as at high risk.
The HSE said monkeypox does not spread easily between people but can affect anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender.
“However by far the biggest risk of spread between people is through close physical contact, including sexual contact and close contact with household members,” it said.
“Vaccination with monkeypox vaccine does not guarantee that a person cannot become infected and those who are vaccinated should continue to be alert to the signs of monkeypox infection.”
Until recently, notified cases of monkeypox in Ireland were among people who self-identify as gbMSM.
The HSE has advised people who are gbMSM to be alert to any unusual rashes or vesicular lesions on any part of their or their partner’s body, especially their genitalia.
They are advised to contact their local STI clinic or GP if they notice anything suspicious.
Two doses of the vaccine – 28 days apart - are being offered as part of the vaccination scheme.