Get a COVID-19 vaccination in Northern Ireland
If you're 18 and over and still need to get your COVID-19 vaccine first or second doses, a local pharmacy is the place to go. If you're aged between 12 and 17 years, different arrangements apply and the details are below. Details of the booster dose programme are also below.
Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine
Anyone aged 12 years over who is a resident of Northern Ireland is eligible to be vaccinated as part of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. You generally have to be registered with a GP in Northern Ireland.
If you live in NI but are not registered with a GP in NI, or are temporarily a resident in NI, you can probably still receive a vaccine but you should email the Department of Health at the address below and they will advise you:
The required interval between first and second doses is eight weeks for anyone aged 18 years and over for all three COVID-19 vaccines currently in use in Northern Ireland - Pfizer, Moderna and Astra Zeneca. Different rules may apply for anyone aged 12 to 17 years of age.
More information on what vaccine you can get, where to get it and how to book (where required) is available below.
Where to get a vaccination - aged 12 to 17 years
Initially most 12 to 17 year olds were only eligible for one dose of the Pfizer vaccine, which is the vaccine recommended for those aged under 18 years of age, unless you were in an ‘at risk’ group or shared the house with an immunosuppressed person.
However, following updated advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), all 16 to 17 year olds are now eligible to receive two doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
JCVI have advised that the second dose should be administered at least 12 weeks after the first dose or, if applicable, 12 weeks after the onset of symptoms or testing positive for COVID.
All healthy 12 to 15 year olds remain eligible for only one dose of vaccine at present, but this may change following further advice from JCVI. As mentioned above, those in an ‘at risk’ group or who share a house with an immunosuppressed person are recommended to receive two doses of the vaccine.
There is an ongoing school-based vaccination programme for those aged 12 to 15 years of age and most children are likely to receive their vaccination at their school.
Any 16 or 17 year olds who still go to school can also request the vaccine while the school nursing team are there. However, if you're currently aged 12 to 17 years of age, you can also receive a dose of the Pfizer vaccine at any of the clinics below:
- any of Northern Ireland's walk-in mobile vaccination clinics, this includes ‘second dose only’ clinics
- Royal Victoria Hospital vaccination centre
- Seven Towers vaccination Centre in Ballymena, which is open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm (closed for lunch 12.30 pm to 1.00 pm) seven days a week
- Ulster Hospital Vaccination Centre
- Lisburn Primary and Community Care Complex (PCCC), Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
Where to get a vaccination - aged 18 years and over
First and/ or second doses (primary vaccination)
Community pharmacies across NI are now taking the lead role in providing first and/ or second doses to everyone aged 18 and over who has yet to receive their first two primary doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
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.
There are two types of primary COVID-19 vaccines offered at community pharmacies: Moderna and Astra Zeneca.
Following updated advice from JCVI, it is preferable if people aged under 40 years of age receive an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Find out which pharmacies are offering the Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccines at the links below:
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.
If you only need a second dose
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, details of which can be found at the links below. You may also wish to check neighbouring Trust websites in case there are convenient clinics outside your Trust area.
- Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
- Northern Health and Social Care Trust
- South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
- Southern Health and Social Care Trust
- Western Health and Social Care Trust
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.
Pregnant women can receive their vaccination at their local community pharmacy, or Health and Social Care Trusts are running special antenatal vaccination clinics - check with your Trust for details.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has produced detailed questions and answers on COVID-19 vaccines, pregnancy and breastfeeding at this link:
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.
COVID-19 booster vaccination
JCVI has issued advice on who should be offered a booster dose, six months after they have received their second primary dose.
Booster vaccines will be offered to:
- those living in residential care homes for older adults
- all adults aged 40 years or over
- frontline health and social care workers
- all those aged 16 to 39 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
How and when to get your COVID-19 booster vaccine
Based on JCVI advice, the booster dose should only be given at least six months after an individual received their second primary dose. Therefore you will only become eligible to receive the booster when you pass the six month mark from receipt of your second vaccination.
If you're eligible, you can wait for your GP to call you or book a vaccination appointment at a participating pharmacy. Find out more at the following link:
Trust vaccination teams will vaccinate care home staff and residents, as well as their own frontline staff.
Community pharmacies will vaccinate non-Trust employed frontline health care staff.
Third dose for those severely immunosuppressed
JCVI has also advised that a third primary dose should be offered to a small number of individuals aged 12 years and over with severe immunosuppression.
These individuals will be identified by their Trust clinician or GP and invited in to receive a third primary dose.
They are also likely to 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:
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:
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
Proof of vaccination
For the latest travel advice go to:
Information on how to apply for proof of vaccination is available at:
Further information about the vaccine
The Public Health Agency has developed a range of leaflets and a frequently asked questions section: