COVID-19 Booster Campaign
The following groups are recommended by NIAC for an autumn COVID-19 booster:
- those aged 50 years and older
- those aged 5-49 with immunocompromise associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination.
- those aged 5-49 with medical conditions associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation, severe disease or death.
- those aged 18-49 who, following discussion of their reasons with a health care provider (e.g., GP, pharmacist or vaccination centre), request vaccination.
- health and care workers
In addition, the following groups remain eligible for COVID-19 vaccination throughout the year:
- Primary Courses for those aged 6 months and older
- First booster dose for people aged 18 years and over, or 12 years and over if immunocompromised.
- Pregnant women in the appropriate stage of pregnancy and where the appropriate time since last dose of vaccine has elapsed.
How long to wait before getting your booster
Wait at least 4 months since getting your last COVID-19 vaccine. You can check the date of your last vaccine on your digital COVID-19 certificate.
If you had COVID-19, wait at least 4 months since you tested positive or from when your symptoms started.
If you are pregnant
If you have not already had a booster during this pregnancy, you can get a second booster at or after 16 weeks of your pregnancy.
Booster doses during pregnancy
How to get your Covid-19 booster
You can:
1.Book an appointment online using the Booking Form
2. Phone our store
3. Email us at info@alwaystherepharmacy.ie
First booster dose
Some people have not had their first booster dose yet. If you haven't already, you can book online.
Why get a booster dose
It's important to keep up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccines, even if you are already vaccinated or you have had COVID-19.
The protection from previous doses or a COVID-19 infection may weaken with time. You may be at higher risk of severe disease if you get COVID-19.
A booster can prevent the possibility of hospitalisation or death from COVID-19 illness.
Booster immunity
It may take 7 days for a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose to work.
Your booster appointment
Bring photo ID that shows your date of birth.
Important
Do not go to your booster appointment if you have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19
If you are unable to leave your home
If you can't leave your home, your GP can refer you for home vaccination.
If you do not have a GP, phone HSE Live on 1800 700 700.
If you were vaccinated in a different country
If you were vaccinated abroad, you can get your booster here if you are due one.
You will need your vaccination details including vaccine type, date given and expiry date.
If you do not have a PPS number
Which vaccine you will be offered
You will be offered a bivalent Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as a booster dose.
These adapted vaccines work in the same way as the original Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. But they are expected to give even more protection against COVID-19 variants.
If you are 30 or older, you will be offered either the bivalent Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or the bivalent Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine you will be offered will depend on supply.
If you are 29 or younger, you will be offered the bivalent Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as your booster dose.
You may get a non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, like Novavax, if an mRNA vaccine is not suitable or you choose not to have an mRNA vaccine.
Read more about COVID-19 vaccine types
Booster dose safety
Because they are new, we have less information on the safety of the second or third COVID-19 boosters.
Many countries have given multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines. There have not been any unexpected safety concerns so far for people who have had multiple boosters.
Myocarditis and pericarditis are inflammatory heart conditions and are very rare risks of mRNA vaccines. These rare side effects are more common in men under the age of 30 years after their second primary vaccine dose. The risk of these side effects appears to be lower after the first booster.
Read more about COVID-19 vaccine side effects
If you have had anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) to Trometamol, you cannot have the adapted vaccines.
We expect that the safety of the adapted vaccines will be similar to the previous vaccines. The safety of the vaccines will continue to be monitored by the EMA.
If you have any concerns about getting a booster, talk to your GP, nurse, pharmacist or vaccinator.
After your COVID-19 booster dose
You need to wait in the clinic for 15 minutes after the vaccine. This is to make sure that you feel well before you leave.
If you have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) in the past, you'll need to wait 30 minutes.
Get medical care immediately if you:
- have difficulty breathing
- feel dizzy
- have a fast heartbeat or a skin rash
These could be a sign of an allergic reaction. But severe allergic reactions are rare.
EU digital COVID cert
You should get an email with your digital COVID-19 cert after getting your vaccine. These certs are issued by the Government, not by the Pharmacy or the HSE.
Request a digital COVID-19 cert on gov.ie
Children
Weak immune system
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility: COVID-19 vaccination