Dublin-born Professor Adrian Hill, Co-Director of the Oxford Martin Programme on Vaccines, is to receive an honorary knighthood while Professor Teresa Lambe, also from Ireland, will be appointed an honorary OBE for services to science and public health.
The life-saving work of Covid-19 vaccine design and delivery is celebrated on the 'Birthday Honours list' of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, with a host of awards going to the experts who transformed the UK's pandemic response.
Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride is also set to receive a knighthood as part of the honours list.
Covid-19 has been a "big, wake-up call", Mr Hill said. Mr Hill described the experience of the pandemic as "busy" and "stressful" but also rewarding