Health Minister Robin Swann has confirmed a major expansion of NI’s Covid-19 vaccination programme to help meet current and forthcoming demand for booster doses.


The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) today recommended the phased extension of the booster programme to all adult age groups.
It advised that boosters should now be offered to everyone aged 18 and over in order of descending age groups, with priority given to the vaccination of older adults and those in Covid-19 at-risk groups. Booster vaccination can now be given from three months of completion of the primary course.
Welcoming the expansion, Mr. Swann said: “Our booster programme will now in many ways mirror the primary dose vaccination programme which steadily moved its way down through the different age groups over a number of months.
“I would again urge people not to be put off getting their first, second or booster doses due to concerns or speculation about the Omicron variant.
“It remains very likely that vaccination will continue to protect against severe illness from Omicron as it does against other variants of SARS-CoV-2.
“In addition, our vaccines provide very good protection against the Delta variant, which remains the predominant strain in Northern Ireland at this point.”
The Minister revealed details of Health Trust vaccination hubs and clinics that are opening this week across Northern Ireland, complementing the ongoing vaccination work of GPs and local pharmacies, significantly increasing the system’s capacity to deliver boosters.
In addition, the pharmacy sector is finalising plans for a special weekend of additional walk-in booster vaccination clinics this Saturday and Sunday (December 4 and 5).
In the first instance, most Trust vaccination hubs and clinics will principally focus on boosters for the over-50s.
Anyone in this category should be called by their GP but can also attend Community Pharmacy or Trust Centres if they have not yet received their booster.
Trust centres are also providing ongoing first- and second-doses for all eligible age groups and will open soon to the 40-49 year olds for their booster doses.
People in the 50-plus age range now have a choice of waiting to be invited in by their GP for their booster, or going to a local pharmacy or the Trust Centres.
The division of roles between the vaccine providers will be kept under ongoing review and is likely to be updated in the coming weeks.
Most Trust vaccination hubs are offering both walk-in and booked appointments. Bookings can be made online at https://covid-19.hscni.net/get-vaccinated/.
A list of pharmacies offering the booster jab is available on the Health and Social Care Board website, at www.hscboard.hscni.net/booster-covid19-vaccination/ .
The Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) vaccination clinic details are listed below:

December 1-14
Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen
Templemore Sports Complex, Londonderry

 

December 15-21
Omagh Leisure Centre, Omagh
An Chroi Community Centre, Hillcrest Road, Waterside, Londonderry

 

Centres will be open seven days a week, 9am-4.30pm each day except for Mondays and Thursdays, when they will instead open from noon to 8pm to facilitate evening appointments.
Bookings are now live for all centres. Walk-ins will also be facilitated at each site.