The test vaccine being bought to combat the dangers of bird flu to humans, will only be administered on a voluntary basis, Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney said today.
More than 400,000 doses of the vaccine against the deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu have been ordered by the Department of Health - enough to treat 200,000 people.
The vaccine ordered by Ireland will be delivered in May and October of this year. It will be retained for healthcare and emergency staff in the event of an outbreak among humans in Ireland.
The Irish Nurses Organisation has expressed concerns about how the vaccine, which is as yet unlicenced, will be administered.
Speaking after a meeting of EU health ministers in Vienna, Ms Harney said confirmed that the doses were ordered in co-operation with the UK from pharmaceutical firm Baxter and Chiron. She said health care workers would be given the choice of whether or not to take the vaccine.
Earlier, Minister of State at the Department of Health Brian Lenihan said: "Planning is taking place both within the HSE and at Government level.
"Of course there is no evidence of an outbreak in humans, there is no evidence of an outbreak among the poultry population in Ireland or among wild birds in Ireland either.
"But of course we are monitoring the position and we are collaborating with our European partners in devising appropriate responses and, in particular, we are working with the UK authorities on this acquisition of this flu vaccine."
An expert group has been set up to advice the Governmet on measures to cope with the threat of the disease and 600,000 doses of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu have been stockpiled with a further 400,000 ordered. Antivirals can reduce the risk of death to those who contract the disease but are not a vaccine.