LAST UPDATE | 23 Dec 2021

ALL OVER 30S will be able to have booster jab from next Wednesday, with the vaccine booking system for children aged 5-11 also set to open next week. 

The moves are part of a further acceleration of the country’s vaccination programme, which yesterday saw over 106,000 booster jabs delivered. 

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said this evening that from 29 December, people aged 30 to 39 will be able to avail of a vaccine in a vaccination centre or pharmacy.

People in this age group can currently avail of vaccines if they are available in a GP surgery.

People aged 16 to 29 who received the Janssen vaccine as their first dose will also be able to avail of a booster from 29 December.

The boosters for this group will first be administered in pharmacies before specific clinics will be set up in vaccination centres. 

The wider rollout of boosters to everyone in the 16-29 age group will begin from 10 January. 

Children

The vaccination of children aged 5-11 began on 20 December for vulnerable cohorts in hospitals, but the wider roll-out to this group is to commence on 3 January. 

Children who have a health condition that puts them at risk or who live with someone of higher risk will be able to have a vaccine in a vaccination centre from 3 January. 

All other 5–11-year-olds will be offered a primary dose of Covid-19 vaccine from 8 January, with the portal opening for that group from 28 December. 

This move means that everyone in Ireland over five will be entitled to a vaccine from next month.

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Speaking this evening, Donnelly said that while Covid-19 is a mild illness for most children, a small minority of children will have more serious disease others may experience long-Covid. 

“As pointed out by NIAC, the potential benefits of vaccination are most obvious for children with underlying conditions, and this is way we are prioritising vaccination for them,” he said. 

Covid-19 has had a significant, negative impact on the lives of all of us, particularly the educational and social lives of our children. The necessary public health measures have disrupted the various developmental opportunities that our children engage in with their peers.

“All of these factors have informed this decision to accelerate Ireland’s Covid-19 vaccination programme.”

As of Tuesday, the HSE opened an online self-scheduler to allow people to book their own appointment for a Covid-19 booster vaccine at a number of vaccination centres. 

- With reporting by Rónán Duffy