The use of vaccine certificates is being considered by the Government.
The document would act as proof that someone has been vaccinated against Covid-19.
It is suggested the certificates could be used to attend large gatherings such as festivals and matches, or for international travel.
Doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine may arrive before the end of the year, if its use is approved in the coming days.
Chief executive of the Health Products Regulatory Authority Lorraine Nolan insists no corners have been cut in the process.
"I can't give you an absolute guarantee that a vaccine will be completely risk-free - that's not possible", she said. "We all know that this will have the typical profile of any vaccine."
She continued: "We can expect when people receive it they might have mild effects like injection site reactions, fever - maybe headache. These things can be managed - they're really short term, they pass really quickly as well."
