As communicated last week, NIAC (National Immunisation Advisory Committee) has advised that an additional COVID-19 booster dose of an mRNA vaccine is recommended this spring for those:
- aged 70 years and older;
- living in long term care facilities for older adults; and
- aged 5 years and older with immunocompromise associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination.
As part of this booster campaign the following vaccines will be available for community pharmacy:
- SpikeVax BA. 4-5 for eligible people aged 30 years and older; and
- Comirnaty BA. 4-5 (12+) for eligible people aged 12 years – 29 years.
We expect this campaign to be officially launched before the end of April and to run until the end of May, with the public being encouraged to avail of a booster vaccine where eligible. You are advised to now place orders for vaccine stock from https://www.ordervaccines.ie/ in line with your anticipated demand. Any site that does not have a scheduled COVID-19 vaccine delivery on or before 28 April and wishes to request an additional delivery should email vaccines@udd.ie stating that this is a COVID -19 vaccine order, and the delivery will be facilitated. There is no restriction on quantity of SpikeVax BA 4-5 vaccine that can be ordered, and each box contains 10 vials with each vial containing 5 doses (50 doses per box). Comirnaty BA 4-5 is restricted to 1 box containing 10 vials, each vial contains 6 doses (60 doses per box).
Clinical guidance, training and support materials for vaccinators are being updated and will be issued shortly. We will notify members when any further information is available.
