Vaccines for COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccines are medicines that should give you protection from serious illness with COVID-19. They help your body to defend itself against the virus.

A number of COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for use in Ireland. You can get more information on the safety and side effects of vaccines from the Health Service Executive (HSE).

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 read about what to do.

How much does the COVID-19 vaccine cost?

The COVID-19 vaccine is free of charge. You cannot get it privately.

Check who can get a free COVID-19 vaccine to see if you are eligible.

Read the latest recommendations from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee.

The HSE offers a seasonal booster for people who are most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Find more about seasonal booster vaccines.

Check how long you should wait after having COVID-19 or a COVID-19 vaccine dose or booster before getting your next dose or booster.

If you are aged 12 or over, you may be eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccine:

• At your GP if they are offering COVID-19 vaccination
• By booking an appointment in a pharmacy offering COVID-19 vaccines

You can make an appointment at a vaccination centre for children aged under 12, by calling the HSElive on freephone 1800 700 700. Read more about COVID-19 vaccines for children below.

If you have a weak immune system, you may be offered an additional vaccine dose. You can read latest recommendations from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommends that your child get a COVID-19 vaccination if they are aged 6 months or older and have a:

• Weak immune system (immunosuppressed or immunocompromised).
• Medical condition that puts them at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19

Children aged under 5 years should wait 14 days after getting their routine childhood vaccines before getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Booking your child’s COVID-19 vaccine

Check the HSE website to see where to get your child’s COVID-19 booster or vaccine for their age group. You will need to bring your child's PPS number.

If you have more than one child getting a vaccine or booster dose, book an appointment for each child.

If your child recently had COVID-19, you must delay getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Parental consent for the COVID-19 vaccine

If you are a child under 16, you must attend your appointment with your parent or legal guardian to give consent for each dose. Your parent or guardian needs to give consent for each dose.

If you are under 16 getting the vaccine, you will also be asked if you want to get the vaccine at your appointment.

If a vaccinator is told that one parent or guardian does not consent to the child getting a vaccine or booster dose, the vaccine or booster dose should not be given.

You can read  information from the HSE to help you decide about vaccination for your child.

Children with additional needs

If your child has additional needs, you can call HSELive on Freephone 1800 700 700 to arrange:

• More time at their appointment
• A quieter appointment time with fewer people

If you are pregnant, a COVID-19 vaccine is recommended if you are:

• Immunocompromised
• At a higher risk of hospitalisation, severe disease or death if you get COVID-19

Read more about COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy

Read more information about the COVID-19 vaccine on the HSE website.

If you are a deaf Irish Sign Language user and you need an interpreter to talk to a HSE COVID-19 helpline agent, you can use the Irish Remote Interpreting Service (IRIS). Irish Sign Language (ISL) videos explaining the COVID-19 vaccine are on the HSE website.

You can read information and watch videos in different languages on COVID-19 and the different vaccines on the HSE website.

When you are given a vaccine, this is called vaccination. The HSE has general information on vaccines and vaccination in Ireland.