The HSE's Deputy Chief Medical Officer says a "sense of hope" is growing among the public.
Dr Ronan Glynn's comments come as the Department of Health report no additional deaths relating to Covid-19.
In the past 24 hours 437 confirmed new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
#covid19ireland:
0 deaths reported today
437 cases@VirginMediaNews— Gabhán Ó Raghallaigh (@gavreilly) March 8, 2021
Speaking at the Department's press conference this evening, Dr Glynn drew attention to the Amárach research data.
He said "48% of people report that they feel the worst of the pandemic is behind us".
He says the hope is "justified" as the vaccine roll out continues but warns the public not to get complacent.
"We must do all we can to continue to suppress this virus and to ensure that as many people as possible get to benefit from vaccination over the coming months."
20 People Hospitalised With The Virus In The Last 24 Hours
Meanwhile, there have 20 additional hospitalisations in the past twenty-four hours.
In total, there are 418 Covid-19 patients in hospitals - 103 of whom are in intensive care.
Most of today's 437 cases were identified in Dublin, where there are 184 new cases.
Elsewhere, there are 31 news cases in Limerick, 26 in Donegal, 20 in Galway and 18 in Offaly.
The remaining 158 cases are spread across all other counties.
As of March 4th, 493,873 doses of #COVID19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland:
•346,256 people have received their first dose
•147,617 people have received their second dose— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) March 7, 2021
149,721 people have received their second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
