A Booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is now being offered in the following circumstances:

• First booster: all people aged 12 and older 
• Second booster: You can get your second booster dose if you are aged 18 to 49 and it has been at least 6 months since getting your last COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 infection
• Third booster: You must be aged 65 or older, or aged 12 to 64 with a condition that puts you at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19. This only applies if your second booster dose was not a bivalent vaccine

You can find the latest eligibility criteria for each booster dose on the HSE website.

The HSE advises that like all medicines, COVID-19 vaccines can cause side effects. Most of these are mild to moderate and short-term and not everyone gets side effects.

Many countries have given multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines. There have not been any unexpected side effects for people who have had multiple boosters.

For the latest information and advice on side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit the HSE website.

According to the HSE, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 (coronavirus) are: 

• Fever (high temperature of 38°C or above, including having chills
• Dry cough
• Fatigue (tiredness)

COVID-19 symptoms can be similar to those of cold, flu or hayfever. You may not have all of the symptoms or your symptoms may be mild.