Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announces acceleration of COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Programme
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly has today announced the acceleration of the COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Programme. Given the emergence of the Omicron variant and demonstrable impact of the booster dose for those who received it, the aim is to ensure that all the risk groups have the opportunity to be vaccinated with a booster, had an appointment or can attend a walk in clinic in a vaccination centre or pharmacy by the end of the year.
The HSE has updated the programme including the following:
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said:
“Ireland has continued to be a frontrunner in the delivery and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines internationally. With over 1.2 million booster doses administered to date, we are currently operating an advanced hybrid model of delivery in Ireland to ensure those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 are further protected. In advance of the festive season, I have asked that the HSE update the programme to maximise delivery.
"It is the intention that we will deliver an average of 300,000 booster doses a week in the coming weeks. I am also pleased to announce that vulnerable children aged 5-11 will begin to be offered an appointment from next week and the booster programme will commence offering appointments to those aged 40 – 49 on the week commencing 27 December. To support this the HSE are implementing a number of capacity-increasing measures including extended opening hours in Vaccination Clinics and the participation of even more GPs and Pharmacies.”
Boosters are available currently to the following groups once it is 3 months since completion of their primary vaccines, and they have not had a laboratory confirmed positive COVID-19 test in the past 6 months: