Phelans Covid 19 Spring Booster Vaccination 

Appointments for the COVID-19 seasonal booster vaccines are to book as they become available for those eligible under HSE guidelines.

If you are over 12 and never received a Covid -19 vaccine or if you are pregnant you are welcome to receive one now. 

The Spring Booster Campaign will commence in late April 2024

Who should get a booster

• A Spring seasonal booster will be offered if you are
• (a) age 80 or older
• (b) age 70 or older and request a vaccine following a consultation with your pharmacist
• (c) pregnant
• (d) age 5 or older with a weak immune system (although only over 12’s vaccinated in pharmacy)                                                                                                             https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/get-the-vaccine/weak-immune-system/#weak-immune-system-list

How long must I wait since my last vaccine or if I have had Covid

The advice is to get your booster dose 6 months after your positive test result or last booster. 

 Which vaccine you will be offered

The vaccine you will be offered will be the Pfizer Omicron variant XBB.1.5.

Why some people need a booster dose

COVID-19 infection can cause severe disease. All COVID-19 vaccines licenced in Ireland are effective at protecting you against hospitalisation and severe illness from COVID-19. But infections in people who are fully vaccinated can happen, especially in older people.

This may be because when you are older your immune system does not respond as strongly to vaccination. Protection from vaccination may weaken over time

 Booster dose safety

A COVID-19 vaccine booster dose has been:

• recommended by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) in Ireland
• approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA)

There have not been any unexpected safety concerns in people who have received a booster dose so far.

If you have any concerns about getting a booster, talk to your GP, nurse, pharmacist or vaccinator.