Covid-19 booster vaccines offered to healthcare staff and those with health conditions

Healthcare workers and people aged 12 to 49 with long term health conditions have been invited to make an appointment for their second Covid-19 booster jab by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said appointments are available from Thursday. “We know that those who have long-term health conditions are at greater risk from serious illness from Covid-19,” he said.

“Getting a second booster vaccine now will help protect these people, particularly as we come in to the autumn. We are now also calling healthcare workers for their next Covid-19 booster.

“We know immunity from Covid-19 vaccination and previous Covid-19 infection decreases over time so getting your booster when it’s due will give you the best protection from serious illness, and increase immunity against infection from Covid-19.”

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Eileen Whelan, HSE national lead for test, trace and vaccination, added: “From today we are moving into the next groups who are due their next booster.

“Those with long-term health conditions aged 12-49 can book their booster appointment from today once it has been four months since their last Covid-19 vaccination or since they were last infected with Covid-19.”

Those who have long-term health conditions such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease should now come forward for their second booster, the HSE said.

Booster appointments can be booked online at HSE vaccination, as well as with some GPs and pharmacies.

Those who are aged over 50 and people who are more than 16 weeks pregnant are also invited to book their next booster at a HSE vaccination centre or from participating GPs and pharmacies.

The HSE and Children’s Health Ireland will shortly be inviting, through their parents, children aged 5-11 years who are immunocompromised and now due to have their first booster, following completion of their primary Covid-19 vaccine course.

The HSE said it will continue to be active over the next few weeks in our services encouraging people to come forward for these and all other relevant Covid-19 vaccines.

The HSE has also strongly urged people who have not yet received a primary Covid-19 vaccine dose to consider attending one of the walk-in clinics for dose one or dose two of the vaccine, or to register for an appointment.

The latest data from the HSE shows there were 75 confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday. There were 262 people in hospital with the virus, including 15 in intensive care. There have been 19 deaths associated with the virus in the past week.

Some 7,208 doses of the second booster were administered on Tuesday, taking the total number to 586,165.