COVID-19 vaccination is available to children aged 6 months and older to give them protection against serious COVID-19 illness.
For people under 16, a parent or legal guardian must book their appointment and give consent for their vaccination.
You can book:
- the first round of vaccination - for all children age 6 months and older
- an additional dose - for children over 5 with a weak immune system
- a first booster - for all children age 12 to 17
- a second booster - for children age 12 to 17 at higher risk from COVID-19
- a third booster - for children age 12 to 17 with a weak immune system
Children at higher risk
If your child is aged 12 or older and at higher risk from COVID-19, they can get a third booster dose now if:
- their second booster dose was not a bivalent vaccine
- it has been 4 months since their last booster or COVID-19 infection
Bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are now being offered as booster doses for people aged 12 and older. These adapted vaccines are expected to give you better protection against COVID-19, including the Omicron variant.
If your child is age 5 to 11 with a weak immune system, we will contact you with an appointment for their first booster.
How to get your child vaccinated
Parents or legal guardians can choose to do one of the below:
- book a vaccination centre appointment on a day and time that suits you
- go to a walk-in clinic - you do not need an appointment but you need to check the times and locations for your child's age group
- book an appointment with a participating pharmacy - for children over 12 only
Booking for more than one child
If you have more than one child getting vaccinated, book an appointment for each child.
Depending on their ages, the appointments may be at different times. This is because there are different vaccine dose amounts for certain age groups.
Vaccination centres have separate appointment slots and walk-in clinics for different age groups:
- 6 months to 4 years
- 5 to 11 years
- 12 years and older
If you have more than one child in the same age group getting vaccinated, the vaccination centre will try to take you in together.
Doses needed
The doses needed and where on the body the vaccine is given depend on your child's age.
6 months to 4 years
The first round of vaccination is 3 doses.
Children age 6 months to 4 years are offered a smaller dose of a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine than age 5 to 11. The immunity they get will be similar to the higher dose vaccine used in older age groups.
The second dose is given 3 weeks after the first, and the third dose 8 weeks after the second dose.
For babies aged 6 to 12 months, the vaccine is given as an injection into the thigh.
For children aged 1 to 4, the vaccine is given as an injection into the thigh or upper arm.
5 to 11 years
The first round of vaccination is 2 doses, 21 days apart.
Children age 5 to 11 are offered a smaller dose of a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine than people age 12 and older. The immunity they get will be similar to the higher dose vaccine used in older age groups.
The vaccine is given as an injection into the upper arm.
12 to 17 years
The first round of vaccination is 2 doses, 21 days apart. The vaccine is given as an injection into the upper arm.
If your child recently turned 12, they should go to a clinic for people age 12 and older. Do this even if they turned 12 after their first dose.
If your child is getting other vaccines
For children under 4 years, prioritise your child's routine childhood vaccines over their COVID-19 vaccination.
Children aged 6 months to 4 years should wait 14 days after getting another vaccine before getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
As a precaution, if your child has recently had the monkeypox vaccine, wait 4 weeks before they get their COVID-19 vaccine. This is because of the unknown risk of myocarditis.
If your child recently had a COVID-19 infection
Delay getting your child vaccinated if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or a positive COVID-19 test result.
How long to wait depends on your child's age.
Age 6 months to 4 years
If your child has or recently had COVID-19 and is due to have dose 1 of the vaccine:
- they should wait until 6 months after their positive COVID-19 test or after they first develop symptoms so the vaccine is most effective
- but if needed, they can be vaccinated from 4 weeks after they first develop symptoms or from their positive COVID-19 test
If your child has COVID-19 and is due to have dose 2 or dose 3 of the vaccine:
- they can be vaccinated from 4 weeks after they first develop symptoms or from their positive COVID-19 test
Age 5 years and older
If they have or have had COVID-19, they need to wait:
- 4 weeks if they are due to get dose 1 or dose 2
- 4 months to get a booster - if they are eligible for a booster
The wait is from when they first developed symptoms or from their positive COVID-19 test.
When your child should not get a COVID-19 vaccine
Giving consent for vaccination
Anyone under 16 must attend their vaccination with a parent or legal guardian.
A parent or legal guardian must be there in person to give consent. You need to give consent for each dose.
The child getting the vaccine will also be asked if they want to get the vaccine at their appointment.
The vaccinator can answer questions you might have about the vaccine.
If it's not possible for a parent or legal guardian to be at the appointment, phone HSELive for advice: 1800 700 700.
If your child is an international student in Ireland
Children from outside Ireland who are visiting or studying in Ireland can be vaccinated in Ireland.
The child’s parent or legal guardian will need to give their consent for vaccination.
If it's not possible for a parent or legal guardian to be at the appointment, phone HSELive for advice: 1800 700 700
From outside Ireland: 00 353 1 240 8787
Registering your child
You can register your child when you arrive at the vaccination centre. This must be done by a parent or legal guardian. You will need to bring their PPS number with you. You only need to do this for dose 1.
Your first appointment will be a few minutes longer but you do not need to arrive earlier.
What to bring
Age 6 months to 4 years
Your child must attend their vaccinations with a parent or legal guardian.
You will need to bring their PPS number to register them for their first vaccination.
If possible, bring a form of identification with their date of birth on it to each vaccination appointment. This can be their passport or birth certificate.
If your child does not have any identification, the parent or legal guardian who brings them to their appointment can confirm their identity and their age.
Your child should wear something that will make it easy to get the vaccine.
For babies aged 6 to 12 months, this will be in their thigh.
For children aged 1 to 4, this will be in their thigh or upper arm.
Make sure to eat before arriving as there may be a wait at the vaccination centre.
Age 5 to 15
If your child is age 5 to 15 they must attend their vaccine appointment with a parent or legal guardian.
You will need to bring their PPS number to register them for their first vaccination.
If possible, bring a form of identification with their date of birth on it to each vaccination appointment. This can be their passport or birth certificate.
If these are not available, any identification like a Public Services Card or school ID would be helpful also.
If your child does not have any identification, the parent or legal guardian who brings them to their appointment can confirm their identity and their age.
Your child should wear something that will make it easy to get the vaccine in their upper arm.
Make sure to eat before arriving as there may be a wait at the vaccination centre.
Age 16 to 17
If your child is age 16 or 17 they will need to bring their PPS number to register for their first vaccination.
If possible, they should bring a form of identification with their date of birth on it. This can be their passport or birth certificate.
If these are not available, any identification like a Public Services Card or school ID would be helpful. But these are not needed to get vaccinated.
They should wear something that will make it easy to get the vaccine in their upper arm.
Children with additional needs
Some children getting their vaccine may need:
- more time at their appointment
- a quieter appointment time with fewer people
If your child has additional needs, call HSELive to arrange one of these options.
Freephone: 1800 700 700