APPOINTMENTS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SECOND BOOSTER FOR ELIGIBLE PATIENTS AT SIRONA MEDICAL – Information for Patients with a Weak Immune System. (SECOND BOOSTER CLINICS NOW COMPLETED AT SIRONA MEDICAL)
A second dose Booster is now recommended for patients who are at a higher risk from serious Covid-19 illness.
Patients eligible for a second dose booster are:
- Patients with a weak immune system as a result of illness or medication (this is a very specific list – please see below for information on eligibility) or
- Patients aged 65 years and over.
Please review the list below and if you meet the criteria for vaccination in this category, please call Reception at (01) 868 0242 regarding an appointment for your booster.
In order to be eligible to receive the Covid-19 Booster vaccine at Sirona Medical, you need to be a registered patient of the practice and be:
- Aged between 16 and 65, with a weak immune system as a result of illness or treatment. You will receive the Moderna vaccine if aged over 30 years; you will receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine if aged under 30 years, in line with the national public health recommendations for your age group. Please read below to check if you are in this category. You cannot receive a second dose Booster if you do not have an illness or treatment on this HSE list.
or
- Aged 65 years or over. You will receive the Moderna vaccine, in line with the national public health recommendations for your age group.
Only patients in these categories can currently receive a second Booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine. You see full details here on the HSE website as to why a second Booster is recommended for you.
Weak Immune System – List of Eligible Conditions and Treatment as per the HSE
Cancer patients:
Cancer patients affected include patients:
- receiving or within 6 weeks of receiving systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted therapy, monoclonal antibodies or immunotherapies
- receiving treatment or pending treatment for a haematological cancer
- haematological cancer – within 5 years of treatment (Haematological cancer includes: leukaemia, lymphomas, blood dyscrasias, other malignant neoplasms affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic systems)
- undergoing or within 6 weeks of surgery or radiotherapy for lung or head and neck cancer
- advanced metastatic cancer
Chronic Kidney Disease
People who have chronic kidney disease:
- on dialysis, or eGFR less than 15ml/min
- eGFR less than 30ml/min
Transplantation
People who have:
- been listed for solid organ or haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT)
- had a solid organ transplant at any time
- had a HSCT in the past 12 months
Genetic diseases
People who have:
- autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED)
- inborn errors in the interferon pathway
- some B and T cell deficiencies
Treatment
People using any of the following for treatment:
- Cyclophosphamide
- Rituximab
- Alemtuzumab
- Cladribine
- Ocrelizumab
High dose systemic steroids
The following doses of prednisolone (or equivalent dose of other glucocorticoid) are likely to be immunosuppressive:
- adults and children over 10kg: ≥40mg/day for more than 1 week, or ≥20mg/day for 2 weeks or longer
- children under 10kg: 2mg/kg/day for 2 weeks or longer
HIV
- People living with HIV not on treatment, or who have CD4 count less than 200/10-6L for adults
How soon can you receive your second Booster dose of vaccine?
- You can get your second booster at least 4 months (at least 120 days) after your first booster. You can check the date of your first booster on your digital COVID cert.
- If you have had COVID-19 since your first booster, wait at least 4 months after you tested positive or from when your symptoms started.
If you are in the category of ‘weak immune system’ due to illness or medication, please contact Reception at (01) 868 0242 and we will arrange an appointment for you. We will ask you to state the condition / category from the list above so that the doctor or nurse can confirm your eligibility.
Please do not book a vaccination appointment if you have any flu-like / head-cold / respiratory or Covid-19 symptoms as you cannot enter the surgery with symptoms.
