Cabinet Ministers have approved NIAC recommendations for the use of the Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccines.
Both vaccines can now be offered to people over the age of 50.
The single-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine can also be used for under-50s.
This should happen in situations where other vaccines are not available, or for hard-to-reach communities.
NIAC has also made recommendations that will see pregnant women offered vaccines faster than expected.
That advice said women between 14 and 36 weeks gestation should be given an mRNA vaccine after consultation with their doctors.
The changes were approved by cabinet Ministers this morning and should mean a speed up in the vaccine roll-out.
