In an acceleration of the booster vaccine rollout, 23 vaccine centres are open for walk-ins without appointments on Monday, while more centres are expected to open later in the week.
The head of the HSE’s vaccination campaign, Damien McCallion, has said that walk-in clinics will continue this week in a bid to give the booster vaccine to as many as possible.
To date 1.5 million booster vaccines have been administered, with 300,000 doses given last week, Mr McCallion told Newstalk Breakfast and RTÉ radio's Morning Ireland.
Mr McCallion urged the public to monitor availability of booster doses through the HSE’s website and pointed out that the booster vaccines continue to be available through three channels: vaccination centres (for appointments and walk-ins), GP surgeries (by appointment) and pharmacies (also by appointment).
Sinn Féin should tell voters about internal party database - Data Protection Commission
Covid-19: Are we heading for another lockdown? Experts give their view
Schools expect ‘huge absenteeism’ rates this week due to fears over Omicron
Priced out of Dublin: ‘Mam’s delighted. I don’t think she ever thought we’d be back’
A full list of the 23 clinics accepting walk-ins are available on the HSE website to those aged 40 and and over, healthcare workers and those with underlying conditions.
Walk-in centres
There are no walk-in vaccination centres open in Dublin city centre on Monday, however, Swords vaccination centre, which was taking walk-ins this morning, has been extended until 3pm today due to demand. Walk-in clinics in the city centre will open at Richmond Barracks and the RDS in Dublin later in the week.
There are long queues and waiting times outside some vaccination centres, in particular at Punchestown Racecourse in Kildare, Shoreline Leisure Centre in Greystones, Co Wicklow, and Glencarn Hotel in Monaghan.
There are also significant waiting times at Fairways Hotel vaccination centres in Louth and Cillin Hill Conference Centre in Kilkenny.
Mr McCallion acknowledged that some centres were under pressure with long queues and advised people to check social media where there were regular updates, and with local radio stations.
Mr McCallion added that anyone who has not yet been vaccinated can go to a walk-in clinic.
Pharmacies and GPs
More than 700 pharmacies are offering booster vaccines by appointment to those in the eligible category.
A full list of pharmacies offering the shot is available on the HSE website, and bookings for appointments can be made through the pharmacies.
Meanwhile, chairman of the GP committee of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), Denis McCauley, has encouraged people to check with their local GP or pharmacy as some have moved down through the age cohorts.
“We were asked last week to get more involved in the Covid vaccine campaign,” said Mr McCauley, adding that GPs have administered 80,000 vaccines since last weekend.
Mr McCauley advised people to check GP’s social media pages for availability.
“Each GP is in a different stage of their vaccine protocol. We were asked to vaccinate initially the above 50s and the medically vulnerable, but a lot of GPs are finished that and are moving down.”
He said the removal of the 15-minute wait has been a “significant help” and GPs are working with deliveries to administer as many boosters as possible.
He said as of last Tuesday, 75 per cent of GPs were vaccinating, and urged people to contact their local GP and pharmacy to avail of their booster shot.
“Each GP will have their own methods but we will be vaccinating up until Christmas and we will be vaccinating again immediately after Christmas.”
List of walk-in vaccination centres open on Monday:
- Carlow: Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, R93 N207
- Cavan: Kilmore Hotel, Dublin Road, Killygarry, Cavan, H12 F6Y7
- Clare: Ennis Hospital Vaccination Centre, Former Outpatients Department, Gort Road, Lifford, Ennis, Clare, V95 HN29
- Cork: City Hall, Anglesea Street, Cork City, Cork, T12T997
- Donegal: Letterkenny, IDA Business Park, Ballyraine, Letterkenny, Donegal, F92 FP83
- Dublin: Swords National Show Centre, Stockhole Lane, Cloghran, Swords, Dublin, K67 VF43
- Galway: Galway Racecourse, Ballybrit, Galway, H91 V654
- Kerry: Borg Warner, Monavalley, Tralee, Kerry, V92 HT21
- Kildare: Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Kildare, W91 VCX4
- Kilkenny: Cillin Hill Conference Centre Dublin Road, Lyrath, Leggettsrath, Kilkenny, R95 T294
- Leitrim: Primary Care Centre, Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim, N41 W3F1
- Limerick: Scoil Carmel, O'Connell Avenue, Limerick City, Limerick, V94 W3X5
- Longford: Clonguish GAA Club, 8 Railway Court, Lamagh, Newtownforbes, Longford, N39 A4E7
- Louth: Fairways Hotel, Dublin Road, Haggardstown, Dundalk, Louth, A91 E6KC
- Mayo: Breaffy House Resort Vaccination Centre, Breaghwy, Breaffy, Castlebar, Mayo, F23 TN97
- Monaghan: Glencarn Hotel, Monaghan Road, Moraghy, Castleblayney, Monaghan, A75 AP92
- Offaly: Mucklagh Community Centre, Mucklagh, Tullamore, Offaly, R35 DN02
- Roscommon: Byron Hughes Building, Golf Links Road, Roscommon Town, Roscommon, F42 YX65
- Sligo: Sligo Racecourse, Cleveragh Road, Sligo Town, Sligo, F91 EE95
- Tipperary: Nenagh Vaccination Centre, Abbeycourt Hotel, Dublin Road, Nenagh, Tipperary, E45 KA99; Clonmel Park Hotel, Cahir Road, Clonmel, Tipperary, E91 X0N7
- Waterford: WIT Sports Campus, Carriganore, Waterford, X91 XD96
- Wexford: Astro Active Centre, Bellefield, Enniscorthy, Wexford, Y21 W640
- Wicklow: Shoreline Leisure Centre, 69 Mill Road, Killincarrig, Greystones, Wicklow, A63 HD25
- Westmeath: Moate Youth and Community Sports Centre, Church Street, Moate, Westmeath, N37 KW60
To receive a Covid-19 booster you must wait three months since receiving the vaccine, or if you have tested positive since receiving the vaccine, you must wait six months after testing positive.
Those over 30 receiving a booster vaccine will be offered a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine depending on supply and regardless of receiving a different vaccine previously, while under-30s will receive a Pfizer vaccine.
Healthcare workers will receive a text from the HSE with a vaccination centre appointment, while others may be offered the vaccine at their workplace. Those in the 16-49 age cohort with underlying conditions will also receive a text from the HSE with a booster appointment at a vaccination centre.