Get a COVID-19 vaccination in Northern Ireland

Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine

To be eligible to be vaccinated as part of the Northern Ireland vaccination programme you generally have to be registered with a GP in Northern Ireland and be in one of the following categories:

• aged 16 years and over as of the 31 August 2021 (you must have reached your 16th birthday on the date you go for vaccination)
• Clinically Extremely Vulnerable aged 12 to 15 with a letter from a paediatrician
• aged 12 and over and living with an immunosuppressed person with a letter from a GP or Health Trust confirming eligibility
• anyone aged 12 to 15 years of age will be offered the vaccine as part of a school-based programme

More information on what vaccine you can get, where to get it and how to book (where required) is available below.

If you're not registered with a GP in NI but live here or are temporarily a resident in NI, you can probably still receive a vaccine but you should email the Department of Health at the email address below and they will advise you how you can be vaccinated.

• covid-19vaccinationprogramme@health-ni.gov.uk

Where to get a vaccination - first doses

Mobile walk-in vaccination clinics

Time is running out if you want to get your first dose COVID-19 vaccine at a walk-in clinic.

The remaining first dose walk-in clinics for everyone aged 16 and over are:

• Balmoral Show Stand B30:
  • Friday 24 September, 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
  • Saturday 25 September, 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
• Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital vaccination centre: 25 to 30 September, 8:30 am to 7.00 pm
• Seven Towers Centre, Ballymena: Saturday 25 September, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
• The Quays, Newry: Saturday 25 September, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
• Hawthorns Adult Centre, Carrickfergus: Saturday 25 September, 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
• Londonderry Park, Portaferry Road, Newtownards BT23 8SG (council sports grounds): Saturday 25 September, 11.00 am to 7.00 pm
• Ards Shopping Centre, 22c Circular Road, Newtownards, BT23 4BN: Sunday 26 September, 11.00 am to 7.00 pm
• The Junction, Dungannon: Sunday 26 September 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
• An Creagan,186 Barony Road, Omagh, BT79 9AQ: Thursday 30 September, 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm

University and college campuses

First doses are also available at Northern Ireland’s universities and Further Education colleges.

• Queen's University Belfast,Quad lawn: Friday 24 September, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm (open to the public)
• Belfast Metropolitan College: Millfield campus: Friday 24 September, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
• South Eastern Regional College (students only):
  • Bangor: Monday 27 September, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm
  • Ards, Tuesday 28 September, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm
  • Lisburn, Wednesday, 29 September, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm
  • Downpatrick, Thursday, 30 September, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm

After these dates, first doses will be available by appointment at community pharmacies.

• COVID vaccination pharmacies

16 and 17 year olds

If you're aged 16 or 17 years old by the 31 August 2021, you can receive a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at one of Northern Ireland's walk-in mobile vaccination clinics or at the Royal Victoria Hospital vaccination centre. You will still be able to get your first dose at any of the clinics listed below for second doses.

You will also be able to go to one of the clinics at a university or college campus, or if you still go to school you will be given an opportunity to receive the vaccine while the school nursing team is there to offer the vaccine to 12 to 15 year olds.

Based on JCVI advice, 16 and 17 year olds are only being offered one dose at this stage.  JCVI will provide further advice as to when/ if a second dose will be offered.  When that advice is available, Trusts will get in touch with anyone vaccinated to invite them back for their second dose, if necessary. 

You have to have reached your 16th birthday before the actual vaccination can take place.

Clinically Extremely Vulnerable or living with an immunosuppressed person aged 12 to 15 years

If you're aged over 12 to 15 years of age (born between 1 August 2005 and 31 July 2009) and one of the specific groups of 'Clinically Extremely Vulnerable' (CEV) recommended to receive the vaccine, you will be identified by your Trust and contacted directly about receiving a vaccination.

If you are aged 12 to 15 years of age and living with an immunosuppressed person and have received a letter from your GP or Trust confirming there is an immunosuppressed person living at your address, you can attend any of the mobile clinics by bringing along the household letter advising that you live with an immunosuppressed person.

Based on JCVI advice, those aged 12-15 years of age who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable or household contacts of an immunosuppressed person will receive two doses, eight weeks apart.

• Get vaccinated

18 and over

If you're aged 18 years or older, you can get vaccinated at one of Northern Ireland's walk-in mobile vaccination clinics without an appointment, or by booking at one of the community pharmacies.

For those aged 18 to 39 this should be at a pharmacy providing Moderna vaccinations.

For those aged 40 years and over, they can avail of the pharmacies offering Moderna or the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Vaccination at a community pharmacy

To be vaccinated at a community pharmacy, you generally have to be registered with a GP in Northern Ireland.

However, if you are not registered with a GP in Northern Ireland, speak to the pharmacist for advice on accessing a vaccination.

Most pharmacies can only supply the AstraZeneca vaccine at present, which is recommended for those aged 40 and over. Details of which pharmacies are offering the AstraZeneca vaccine is available at:

• COVID vaccination pharmacies

However, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is also available in more than 48 pharmacies across Northern Ireland.  The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine can be administered to anyone aged 18 years and over.

Details of which pharmacies are offering the Moderna vaccine are available at:

• COVID-19 moderna vaccination pharmacies

RNIB helpline

If you are blind or partially sighted and need help in accessing the details of your local participating pharmacy, you can contact RNIB, Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm and Saturday from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm.

This is not a booking line and the operator cannot help organise any vaccination appointments.

• phone: 0303 123 9999
• email: helpline@rnib.org.uk

Calls cost no more than a standard rate call, or count towards any inclusive minutes, to an 01 or 02 number. The price of calls varies between different providers, so check with your provider if you are unsure.

Pregnant or believe to be pregnant

In the early stages of the vaccination programme, pregnant women were asked to hold back on getting their jabs. This was a precautionary measure, which allowed more data to become available on safety.

With that data now obtained, pregnant women are advised to get vaccinated.

For advice about getting the COVID-19 vaccination, you can speak to your obstetric provider or midwife.

Also, Health and Social Care Trusts are running special antenatal vaccination clinics, some of which are listed below.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has produced detailed questions and answers on COVID-19 vaccines, pregnancy and breastfeeding at this link:

• COVID-19 vaccines, pregnancy and breastfeeding

In relation to fertility, there is absolutely no evidence that any of the vaccines can affect the fertility of women or men.

More information is available on the British Fertility Society website.

Where to get a vaccination - second doses

You can continue to get your second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at a community pharmacy or at one of the mobile walk-in vaccination clinics below - you can also go to any of the first dose clinics: 

Belfast Trust

• Royal Victoria Hospital vaccination centre:
  • daily, 8.30 am to 7.00 pm (eight weeks after your first dose)
• North Belfast Day Opportunities at the Everton Complex, 585 to 587 Crumlin Road, Belfast, BT14 7GB: 
  • Tuesday 5 October, 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm
• Whiterock Day Centre, 6 Whiterock Grove, Belfast, BT12 7RQ:
  • Wednesday 6 October, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
• St Simon’s Community Hub, 8 Nubia Street, BT12 6JZ:
  • Tuesday 19 October, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm

• Short Strand Community Hall, 26a Beechfield Street, BT5 4EQ:

  • Wednesday 20 October,10.00 am to 4.00 pm

• Macrory Church Hall, 130 Duncairn Gardens, BT15 2GL:

  • Thursday 21 October, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm

South Eastern HSC Trust area

• Londonderry Park, Portaferry Road, Newtownards BT23 8SG - Council Sports Grounds (Moderna 18 plus, Pfizer):

  • Saturday 25 September, 11.00 am to 7.00 pm

• Ards Shopping Centre, 22c Circular Road, Newtownards, BT23 4BN (Moderna 18 plus, Pfizer):

  • Sunday 26 September, 11.00 am to 7.00 pm

• Colin Town Square, Colin Connect, Stewartstown Road (Moderna 18 plus, Pfizer):
  • Saturday 2 October, 11.00 am to 7.00 pm
  • Sunday 3 October, 11.00 am to 7.00 pm

• Custom House Square Festival Return (Queens Quay Walkway) (Pfizer):

  • Tuesday 5 October, 10.00 am to 3.30 pm

  • Wednesday 6 October, 10.00 am to 3.30 pm

  • Friday 8 October, 10.00 am to 3.30 pm

  • Friday 15 October, 10.00 am to 3.30 pm

  • Tuesday 19 October, 10.00 am to 3.30 pm

  • Thursday 21 October, 10.00 am to 3.30 pm

  • Friday 22 October, 10.00 am to 3.30 pm

  • Saturday 23 October, 10.00 am to 3.30 pm

  • Sunday 24 October, 10.00 am to 3.30 pm

• Ballymote Community Centre, Killough Road, Downpatrick (Moderna 18 plus, Pfizer):

  • Wednesday 6 October, 11.00 am to 6.00 pm 

• Market House,  The Square, Ballynahinch (Moderna 18 plus, Pfizer):
  • Thursday 7 October, 11.00 am to 5.00 pm

• Comber Leisure Centre, Castle Street Court, Comber (Moderna 18 plus, Pfizer):

  • Friday 8 October, 11.00 am to 7.00 pm

• Ulster Maternity Outpatients Department (for antenatal/ postnatal/ birthing partners/ friends and family, Pfizer):
  • Saturday 9 October, 9.30 am to 3.30 pm
  • Saturday 16 October, 9.30 am to 3.30 pm
  • Saturday 23 October, 9.30 am to 3.00 pm

• Kilcooley Community Centre (Moderna 18 plus, Pfizer):

  • Wednesday 13 October, 11.00 am to 6.00 pm

• Dundrum GAC, Main street, Dundrum, BT33 0SA (Moderna 18 plus, Pfizer):

  • Thursday 14 October, 11.00 am to 6.00 pm

• Connswater Shopping Centre (Moderna 18 plus, Pfizer):

  • Friday 15 October, 11.00 am to 7.00 pm

• Skainos, Newtownards Road, Belfast (Moderna 18 plus, Pfizer):

  • Monday 18 October, 11.00 am to 7.00 pm

• Kilcoo GAC, Dublin Road, Kilcoo, County Down (Moderna 18 plus, Pfizer):
  • Wednesday 20 October, 11.00 am to 6.00 pm

• Alderman George Green Community Centre, Rathgill (Moderna 18 plus, Pfizer):

  • Friday 22 October, 10.00 am to 6.00 pm

• Lagan Valley midwifery-led unit (for antenatal/ postnatal/ birthing partners/ friends and family, Pfizer):

  • Tuesday 26 October, 9.30 am to 1.30 pm

• The Downe Midwifery Led Unit (for antenatal/ postnatal/ birthing partners/ friends and family, Pfizer):

  • Friday 29 October, 11.30 am to 3.30 pm

• Ards Hospital Maternity Hub (for antenatal/ postnatal/ birthing partners/ friends and family, Pfizer):

  • Saturday 30 October, 9.00 am to 3.00 pm

• Scrabo Community Resource Centre, Scrabo Estate, 18b Cuan Place, BT23 4PB (Moderna 18 plus, Pfizer):
  • Tuesday 9 November, 10. 00 am to 2.00 pm
• Bowtown Community Centre, Bowtown Estate, 11a Abbot Garden, BT23 8LU  (Moderna 18 plus, Pfizer):
  • Thursday 11 November, 11.00 am to 6.00 pm

Southern HSC Trust area

• The Quays, Newry:
  • Saturday 25 September, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
  • Thursday 30 September, 2.00 pm to 8.00 pm
  • Sunday 3 October, 12.00 pm to 6.00 pm
  • Thursday 14 October,  2.00 pm to 8.00 pm
  • Sunday 17 October,  11.00 am to 5.00 pm
  • Thursday 21 October,  2.00 pm to 8.00 pm
  • Thursday 28 October,  2.00 pm to 8.00 pm
  • Friday 5 November,  2.00 pm to 8.00 pm
• Portadown Health and Care Centre:
  • Saturday 2 October, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
  • Sunday 7  November, 9.30 am to 3.30 pm
• Kilkeel Leisure Centre:
  • Saturday 2 October, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
• Derrynoose Community Centre:
  • Wednesday 6 October, 9.00 am to 12.30 pm
• Newtownhamilton Rural Hall:
  • Wednesday 6 October, 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm
• Armagh, Dobbin Street:
  • Saturday 9 October, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
• The Junction, Dungannon:
  • Sunday 10 October, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
  • Sunday 24 October, 9.30 am to 5.00 pm
  • Sunday 7  November, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
  • Sunday 21  November, 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
• Clann Eireann GAC, Lurgan:
  • Saturday 16 October, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
• Craigavon Civic Centre :
  • Saturday 16 October, 8.30 am to 5.00 pm
  • Sunday 17 October, 8.30 am to 5.00 pm
• Harps Club, Armagh:
  • Monday 18 October, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
• St Andrew’s Parish Hall, Killyman:
  • Wednesday 20 October, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
• Armagh Rugby Club:
  • Tuesday 26 October, 9.30 am to 4.00 pm
• The Torrent Complex:
  • Friday 29 October, 2.00 pm to 8.00 pm
• Aghaloo and Blackwater Community Centre, Aughnacloy:
  • Sunday 31 October, 9.30 am to 3.30 pm
• Silverbridge Resource Centre:
  • Wednesday 17  November, 2.00 pm to 8.00 pm
• Newtownhamilton Rural Hall:
  • Thursday 18  November, 2.00 pm to 8.00 pm

Western Trust

• Alley Theatre, Strabane: 
  • Thursday 30 September, 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm
• Sports Complex, Dromore:
  • Friday 29 October, 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm
• Derrylin:
  • Tuesday 12 October, 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm
• Diamond Centre, Claudy:
  • Tuesday 19 October, 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm
• Strathroy, Omagh:
  • Thursday 21 October, 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm
• Longtower Youth Club TRIAX:
  • Wednesday 27 October, 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm

If necessary, you can attend on another date, without having to change your original appointment, as long as the required interval has passed since your first dose.

The required interval between first and second doses is eight weeks for all three COVID-19 vaccines currently in use in Northern Ireland - Pfizer, Moderna and Astra Zeneca.

Third dose for those severely immunosuppressed

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that a third primary dose should be offered to individuals aged 12 year and over with severe immunosuppression in proximity of their first or second COVID-19 vaccine doses in the primary schedule. 

These individuals will be identified by their Trust clinician or GP and invited in to receive a third primary dose. 

They will also be offered a booster dose in due course based on further advice from JCVI.

Vaccine safety

The vaccines have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness set out by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). More information is available at:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): vaccine safety

Vaccination programme in Northern Ireland

The COVID-19 vaccination programme is based on the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an independent expert group.

The Department of Health vaccination phased plan is available at:

• COVID-19 vaccination programme phased plan

Following the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) it is preferable if people aged under 40 receive an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

More information about the latest JCVI statement can be found at this link:

• Updated NI vaccination programme - key questions answered

Booking an appointment

If you are under 18 years of age you can book a vaccination online at the Royal Victoria Hospital vaccination centre:

• Get vaccinated

Follow the public health advice after being vaccinated

Two doses of the current approved vaccines have shown a high level of protection against serious illness from COVID-19, but no vaccine gives 100 per cent protection.  

As the COVID-19 vaccines are new, research is ongoing to see what impact they have on reducing the spread of the disease and to examine the extent to which vaccinated people can still pass the infection on to others.

Therefore, after vaccination, you must continue to follow the public health advice and comply with restrictions. You still need to:

• practise social distancing
• wear a face covering
• wash your hands carefully and often
• comply with restrictions

COVID-19 booster vaccination programme

Final advice on booster vaccines has been issued by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).  

Booster vaccines will be offered to those considered most vulnerable:

• those living in residential care homes for older adults
• all adults aged 50 years or over
• frontline health and social care workers
• all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19, and adult carers 

and

• adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals

The programme is expected to start before the end of September 2021 with residents in care homes.

Proof of vaccination

Northern Ireland residents can currently travel abroad under the traffic lights system.

For the latest travel advice go to:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): travel advice

Information on how to apply for proof of vaccination is available at:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): COVID certificate for NI residents

Further information about the vaccine

The Public Health Agency has developed a range of leaflets and a frequently asked questions section:

• COVID-19 vaccination programme