Vaccine tailored for the Omicron variant of Covid-19 shall be out there as booster jabs from subsequent month to those that are eligible, the Division of Well being has mentioned.
Doses of the tailored bivalent vaccines have already been delivered to Eire.
Tailored bivalent Covid-19 boosters embody elements of the unique virus pressure of Sars-CoV-2 and the Omicron variant.
The Nationwide Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) really useful that bivalent mRNA vaccines be made out there for individuals aged 12 years and older who're eligible for a booster vaccine.
Minister for Well being Stephen Donnelly has accepted the suggestions, which had been endorsed by the interim chief medical officer Professor Breda Smyth.
First booster doses are being supplied to youngsters aged 5 to 11 with weak immune methods, and other people aged 12 and older.
A second booster is being supplied to a wide range of individuals forward of the winter interval, together with individuals aged 50-64, and people aged 12 or older with situations that might put them at excessive danger of Covid-19.
Ladies who're greater than 16 weeks’ pregnant, these aged 12 or older dwelling in long-term care services, and healthcare employees are additionally eligible for a second booster.
Mr Donnelly mentioned the tailored vaccines will play “a big function in Eire’s autumn/winter vaccination marketing campaign”.
He added: “Officers in my Division have secured entry to tailored bivalent vaccines by participation (in partnership with the European Fee and different Member States), within the EU’s Covid-19 Vaccination Technique.
“Doses of bivalent tailored vaccines have already been delivered to Eire due to provisions of Buy Agreements negotiated by the Fee as a part of the EU’s Covid Technique.”
Prof Smyth harassed: “It's actually essential that anybody but to obtain any course of Covid-19 vaccine does in order quickly as potential and that anybody for whom a booster dose is really useful makes preparations to obtain that booster.”
The HSE will embody bivalent booster vaccines within the vaccination programme from early October, when the flu vaccine programme is because of start.
From subsequent month, anybody who's eligible for each a flu vaccine and a Covid-19 booster can obtain them on the similar time from taking part GPs and pharmacies, as long as it has been not less than 4 months since their final Covid-19 vaccine or an infection.