COVID-19 vaccination is safe and effective. It gives you the best protection against serious COVID-19 illness.
Recommended COVID-19 vaccination depends on your age and if you're at higher risk from COVID-19.
This includes recommendations for COVID-19:
Where to get your vaccine
People age 12 and older can go to a:
- participating pharmacy
- GP who is offering COVID-19 vaccination
You can also phone HSELive to find out where vaccines are being offered near you. Freephone 1800 700 700
People under 16 must attend their vaccination with a parent or guardian.
If your child is under 12
Children under age 12 who are eligible for vaccination can get the vaccine at a vaccination clinic.
They must have an appointment to get the vaccine.
To make an appointment for your child, call HSELive on freephone 1800 700 700. We will share your details with your local vaccination clinic. They will contact you as soon as possible to arrange an appointment.
Children under age 12 cannot get the vaccine at a pharmacy or GP surgery. The vaccine doses offered are different for young children.
First COVID-19 vaccine
The first round of vaccination (primary vaccination course) is for people who never had a COVID-19 vaccine.
There is different advice for people with a weak immune system.
Age 5 or older
People age 5 and older need 1 dose for the first round of COVID-19 vaccination.
If you had COVID-19, wait at least 4 weeks since you tested positive or from when your symptoms started.
Age 6 months to 4 years
To get your first round of COVID-19 vaccination, you must be age 6 months or older.
For children age 6 months to 4 years, the number of doses they need will depend on whether they have had a COVID-19 infection.
If they never had COVID-19
If they have never had COVID-19, they will need 2 doses for their first round of COVID-19 vaccination. The second dose is given 4 weeks after the first.
If they had COVID-19
If they had COVID-19 at any time, they will only need 1 dose.
They should wait at least 4 weeks since they tested positive or from when their symptoms started.
Recommended vaccines
The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is an mRNA vaccine. This is the COVID-19 vaccine recommended for most people.
Some people may not be able to get an mRNA vaccine or chose not to get one. In this case, the Nuvaxovid (Novavax) vaccine is usually recommended.
However, the Nuvaxovid (Novavax) vaccine is currently not available in Ireland.
We are trying to get supplies of the vaccine but we do not know if or when it will become available.
You can phone HSELive at Freephone 1800 700 700 and ask to be contacted when Nuvaxovid (Novavax) becomes available.