COVID-19 Vaccination Service

**Important information before you book an appointment**

Looking after our customers and colleagues remains our top priority. Please don’t come into store for your appointment if you:

• Have symptoms of COVID-19
• Get a positive PCR or antigen test result for COVID-19, even if you have mild symptoms or no symptoms

Instead, please cancel your appointment.

Vaccine Types

While all previous vaccines are effective in offering protection against COVID-19, the newer adapted vaccines can offer wider protection against the newer variants of COVID-19.

The different types of COVID-19 vaccines that have been used in Ireland are:

• mRNA - Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna
• viral vector - AstraZeneca and Janssen
• protein subunit - Novavax and Vidprevtyn Beta

For more information on the most up to date vaccines, visit HSE.ie

Who can get it?

Community pharmacies can currently only provide booster vaccination doses to those in recommended groups aged 12 years and over.

In September 2023, NIAC recommended the preferential use of the newly adapted XBB.1.5 monovalent vaccines for booster doses in place of the previously recommended bivalent vaccines. Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 is NOT indicated for use as a primary course.

NIAC recommends an Autumn 2023 COVID-19 booster vaccine for:

• All those aged 50 years and older
• Those aged 5-49 years with immunocompromise associated with a sub-optimal response to vaccination Those aged 5-49 years with medical conditions associated with higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation, severe disease or death Residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions.
  Please note that community pharmacists can only administer booster vaccines to those aged 12 years and older.
• Healthcare workers

Those aged 18-49 years and not in one of the above groups who seek vaccination following discussion with their healthcare provider may also receive it. For all those now eligible, an Autumn 2023 COVID-19 booster vaccine dose is recommended irrespective of the number of previous booster doses or types of COVID-19 vaccines received.

For those aged 50 years and older, an interval of 6 months is recommended following any previous COVID-19 vaccine dose or SARS-CoV-2 infection. An interval of at least 3 months may be used for operational reasons.

For those aged 5 to 49 years an interval of 9 months is recommended following any previous COVID-19 vaccine dose or SARS-CoV-2 infection. An interval of at least 3 months may be used for operational reasons.

For those aged 5 years and older with immunocompromise associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination, an interval of 6 months is recommended following the previous COVID-19 vaccine dose or SARS-CoV-2 infection. An interval of at least 3 months may be used for operational reasons.

The minimum interval of at least 3 months can be used if there is no need to provide early protection or to facilitate getting a combination vaccine of Covid-19 and the Flu vaccine.

What to expect during your appointment

Upon arrival, our pharmacist will conduct a brief consultation with you to ensure that you meet the current eligibility criteria and that it is safe for you to receive the vaccine. They will also provide you with information about the vaccine, its potential side effects, and address any questions or concerns you may have.

Once the consultation is complete, our pharmacist will administer the vaccine via injection into your upper arm. After receiving the vaccination, we will ask you to remain in the pharmacy for a short observation period, typically 15 minutes, to ensure there are no immediate side effects.

What to expect after receiving the vaccine

After receiving the vaccine, you may experience some common side effects, such as a sore arm, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, or nausea. These side effects are generally mild and dissipate within a few days.