The HSE is to establish vaccination centres across the Shannonside region as the country prepares to move to the next stage of Covid-19 inoculations.
The plans call for 40 centres across the country with major hubs in Athlone, Sligo and Galway among others.
It's understood that Longford and Mullingar will also house smaller centres for people to get their coronavirus vaccines.
The HSE are also in negotiations with large business and hotel owners across the region over locating vaccination centres on suitable commercial properties.
Today has seen the first uses of the AstraZenica vaccine on healthcare workers in Ireland.
Meanwhile, people over 85 will begin to receive the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines from GPs from a week today with the vast majority of these inoculations taking place in GP Practices.
Longford Councillor and Mid- Leinster Health Forum member PJ O'Reilly says he hopes to see centres eventually set up in regional towns and villages to help safely distribute the vaccine:
