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Booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 vaccines give protection against the serious complications of COVID-19 infection. But the protection from previous vaccination weakens over time.

A COVID-19 booster dose helps to boost your immune system. It gives you the best protection available to stop you from becoming seriously ill or needing to go to hospital if you get COVID-19.

When booster doses are available

COVID-19 boosters are available any time of the year when recommended to people:

  • with a weak immune system
  • during pregnancy

After that, seasonal boosters are offered to people at higher risk from COVID-19. Boosters are available in spring and autumn.

The next booster doses will be offered from April 2025. We will update this page with more information when the vaccines are available.

If you have any questions about getting a booster dose, call HSELive on 1800 700 700.

COVID-19 vaccines are available for primary vaccination courses for those in recommended groups, at any time of the year.

Where to get a vaccine

Adults and children age 12 and older can get COVID-19 vaccines at:

Children under age 12 who are eligible for vaccination can get the vaccine at vaccination clinics.

Go to the correct clinic for your child’s age group. The vaccine doses offered are different for young children.

COVID-19 vaccination for children

Booster dose safety

COVID-19 booster vaccines are recommended in many countries. There have not been any unexpected safety concerns so far. The safety of the vaccines continues to be monitored by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommends that mRNA vaccines are given as booster vaccines.

The most common side effects reported from mRNA (Pfizer/BioNTech) vaccines are pain at the injection site, headache, fever and tiredness.

Do not get an mRNA booster vaccine if you had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis):

  • to trometamol or polyethylene glycol (PEG)
  • after a previous mRNA vaccine

Myocarditis and pericarditis are inflammatory heart conditions and are very rare risks of mRNA vaccines.

These rare side effects are more common in men age under 30, after their second primary vaccine dose. The risk is lower following booster vaccination.

COVID-19 vaccine side effects

If you have any concerns about COVID-19 vaccines, talk to your GP, nurse, pharmacist or vaccinator.

COVID-19 booster vaccination while pregnant

Read about booster doses needed during pregnancy.

Page last reviewed: 26 February 2025