Update on eligibility criteria for 2nd Booster
Posted by Eamonn Brady on
Covid 19 Booster Vaccines
Update on 2nd Booster
Who is eligible for a 2nd booster?
- People aged 65 years and over
- aged 12 and over with a weak immune system
You can get your booster vaccine at a HSE vaccination centre or a participating GP or pharmacy. Whelehans Pharmacy at Pearse St Mullingar have a walk in Covid 19 vaccine clinic every Wednesday which includes 2nd boosters.
The second booster prevents those more vulnerable to COVID-19 from becoming seriously ill or needing hospital treatment due to COVID-19. Immunity from Covid 19 vaccines wanes significantly from 3 months after vaccination.
If you have a weak immune system
Clinicians are identifying people (aged 12 to 64) who are immunocompromised for eligibility for the 2nd booster vaccine. If you are unsure if you are in the immunocompromised group, ask your GP or doctor looking after your care, and if they feel you should be in the immunocompromised group, your doctor can add you to the HSE’s eligible list for 2nd booster.
Interval between first and second booster
If you are 65 or over, you should get your second booster at least 4 months after your first booster. You can check the date of your last booster on your digital COVID-19 certificate.
If you have had COVID-19 in the last 4 months
You should get your second booster dose at least 4 months after your positive test result or when your symptoms started.
What vaccine will I get?
If you are 30 years or older you will be offered a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID 19 vaccine over the coming weeks. If you are 29 years or younger, you will be offered a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine. These are mRNA vaccines. NIAC have recommended people are given a mRNA vaccine for this second booster dose, and it is safe to receive if you previously had a different vaccine.
Booster COVID Vaccine available at Whelehans Pharmacy
Eligible people (over 12) can book a booster vaccine at Whelehans Pharmacy Pearse St on the Whelehans Pharmacy website or call 0449 334591 or simply call in to Whelehans weekly Wednesday walk-in clinic. I will discuss COVID 19 vaccine requirement for international travel next week.
Thanks to the HSE for the info for this article. Information is correct in May 2022 and is subject to changes in Government rules.
Check www.hse.ie for more vaccine information. For comprehensive and free health advice and information call in to Whelehans Pharmacies, log on to www.whelehans.ie or dial 04493 34591 (Pearse St) or 04493 10266 (Clonmore).