The Spring Booster programme concludes on 16 June. The HSE is now preparing to pause the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme over the summer months (July and August) for the majority of people, with the exception of certain cohorts noted below:
- Primary courses for those aged 6 months and older*;
- First booster dose for people aged 18 years and over (12 years and over if immunocompromised), if it has been at least 4 months since they completed their primary course; and
- Pregnant women in the appropriate stage of pregnancy and where the appropriate time since last dose of vaccine has elapsed**
* COVID-19 vaccinations are only provided through community pharmacy to those aged 12 years and older.
**Please refer to latest NIAC recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy here.
Participating GPs and pharmacists can continue to provide COVID-19 vaccines to these cohorts during the summer months. Community vaccination centres (CVCs) will wind down except for a small number of clinics over the summer mainly for the 6 months to 4 years and 5-11 years children’s programme.
If patients who were eligible for a Spring booster come forward for booster after 16 June, then clinical discretion should be used to assess the risk, benefit and impact on Autumn booster timing before administering a booster.
In line with current NIAC guidance, an autumn COVID-19 booster vaccine will be offered to:
- those aged 50 years and older;
- those aged 5-49 years with immunocompromise associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination; and
- those aged 5-49 years with conditions or treatments associated with very high or high risk of severe COVID-19 disease; health and care workers.
It is planned that the Autumn COVID-19 booster campaign will run in conjunction with the seasonal Flu vaccine. Further details about the Autumn booster will be released in due course.
