COVID-19 BOOSTER VACCINATIONS FOR PATIENTS AGED 70 AND OVER
In line with national public health advice, the HSE will provide a Covid-19 booster vaccine for all patients aged 70 and over, to be given in your General Practice. All patients aged 60-69 will be invited to HSE mass vaccination centres to receive their booster (Please note: this is a HSE decision and we will NOT receive vaccines for patients between 60 and 69).
The majority of our patients aged 80 and over have already received their booster vaccine at the practice (if you are over 80 and have not received yours, please contact us).
If you are aged between 70 and 79 years, you will receive a text message in the coming week with the date and time of your appointment to receive your Covid-19 booster. Please attend at the appointment time you are allocated if at all possible, as we have a significant number of patients to accommodate, and have limited available days.
If you cannot attend at the appointment time you are given, due to a hospital appointment or other significant event, please telephone the practice as soon as possible at (01) 868 0242. If you do not wish to receive the Covid-19 booster, please telephone to let us know.
Please read the important information below in full before attending your Covid-19 booster appointment.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR COVID-19 BOOSTER VACCINE APPOINTMENT
All patients receiving a Covid-19 Booster vaccination in Sirona Medical will receive the Pfizer BioNTech (Comirnaty) vaccine. This is decided by HSE public health and is regardless of what vaccines you received initially.
Please read the booster vaccine information leaflet here before you attend.
- In most cases, you should get a Covid-19 booster dose around 3 months* after your previous Covid-19 vaccines (*updated to 3 months on 15/12/2021 in line with national Government / HSE update).
- If you had COVID-19 since you were initially vaccinated, you should get your booster dose around 6 months after your positive test result. If you have had confirmed Covid-19 infection in the past 6 months, please contact the practice to defer your appointment.
- Please arrive at the time of your appointment and no earlier/later – we will run as closely as possible to appointment times while adhering to social distancing guidelines. If we are running ahead or behind, we will do our best to contact you accordingly. Please be mindful of weather conditions as you will be waiting outside before being called for your vaccination.
- Please arrange to be dropped off at the gate or to come on foot for your appointment if at all possible. Parking will be very limited and we ask that those who are mobile allow for others with reduced mobility to have preference in parking.
- If you need assistance getting to and from the practice for your vaccine, please bring a friend/relative/carer who can assist you with this.
- Please wear a short sleeve under your warm coat/jacket and clothing that allows easy access to your shoulder.
- The doctor / nurse will ask you some questions to confirm your suitability to receive the vaccine.
- The vaccine is given into your upper arm (similar to the flu vaccine) and you will need to wait for 15 minutes for observation after your vaccine before you can go home, just to make sure that you don’t get any side effects. If you have a history of anaphylaxis for any cause, you will be asked to remain on site for 30 minutes following the vaccine.
- It is safe to receive the Covid-19 vaccine at the same time as the flu vaccine. If you have not had the flu vaccine and wish to receive it at the same time as your Covid Booster vaccine, please ask the nurse/doctor. If we have available flu vaccine, you will receive the flu shot in your other arm.
- This is a vaccine appointment only – we will not be in a position to discuss any other medical issues with you and you will need to telephone for an appointment if you wish to see the doctor for any medical issue. We have to keep to a strict schedule to adhere to social distancing guidelines and required observation periods.
Please read the information booklet using the link above before you attend. Some people will experience some side effects in the 48 hours after the vaccine, including sore arm, fever, headaches and generalized aches and pains. These can be treated with paracetamol and should resolve within 2-3 days. You can read a leaflet here about what to expect after you receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine: What to Expect After You Receive Your Covid-19 Pfizer Vaccine.
Please note a fever following vaccination is a common expected side effect but if you experience a fever/high temperature lasting more than 48 hours and/or any symptoms of COVID (cough/ shortness of breath / chest tightness / loss of smell or taste) please contact the practice.
If you have a history of anaphylaxis to any vaccine you should let us know. If you think you may be allergic to any component of the Pfizer BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine, please let us know, as you may not be eligible for the vaccine. Please contact the practice to discuss this if you have concerns around vaccine allergy.
Please ensure you continue to adhere to public health guidance regarding cough etiquette, social distancing and hand washing following your vaccination.
The Covid-19 vaccination programme, including the Boosters has a significant impact on the availability of appointments for all other general and regular consultations. It is however, a very important part of our national and community response to Covid-19 and is vital to provide additional protection for our older patients. We are very grateful for the patience and understanding of all our patients during the continued rollout of this complex COVID-19 vaccination programme.
