The Department of Health has issued some guidance on the delivery of Covid booster jabs.
The move comes in the wake of the emergence of the Omicron variant and a change to guidance on booster doses shifting the time between second dose and booster from six months to three. The Department is insisting, however, that the role out will still be phased to allow for a prioritisation of older and more vulnerable groups.
Key points on the expanded booster programme:
* Newly-opened Health Trust vaccination clinics across NI are offering boosters to the 50-plus age group. They will also provide first and second doses to anyone eligible of any age.
If you are 50 or over and it’s been at least three months since your second dose, you can now get your booster. You can get it at a Trust clinic, a participating pharmacy – or wait for your GP to invite you in.
* If you are aged 40 to 49, you are next on the age priority list for boosters. Eligibility will be extended to you on a phased basis, as quickly as possible. Right now, people in their 40s who had their second dose six months ago or more can also get their booster at a Health Trust vaccination clinic. Eligibility for this age group will be gradually widened in the coming weeks, reducing to the recommended three month interval.
* Vaccinators will work through all adult age groups in a phased way, just as they did in the original vaccination programme earlier this year. The updated Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice makes clear that boosters “will be offered in order of descending age groups, with priority given to the vaccination of older adults and those in an at-risk group”.
People under 40 who are more vulnerable are already being prioritised, alongside older age groups.
* The JCVI’s announcement also says those aged 18 to 39 will be eligible for a booster when the NHS calls them forward. They will call them forward on phased basis in order of descending age groups, as the JCVI has advised. People are asked to wait until their age group is called forward.
* The booster programme involves the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines. Asked what people should do if they had the AstraZeneca jab for does one and two, the Department said people’s “booster dose does not have to be same vaccine as your first and second doses”.
On Monday the JCVI said: “Both the Moderna (50 microgram) and Pfizer-BioNTech (30 microgram) vaccines have been shown to substantially increase antibody levels when offered as a booster dose and should be used with equal preference in the booster programme.”
* Most Trust vaccination hubs are offering both walk-in and booked appointments – eligibility will change from week to week. Bookings can be made here: https://covid-19.hscni.net/get-vaccinated/
* Full text of JCVI statement on expanded booster programme. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jcvi-advice-on-covid-19-booster-vaccines-for-those-aged-18-to-39-and-a-second-dose-for-ages-12-to-15
