40 - 44 year olds can now access Covid-19 Vaccine

Health Minister Robin Swann has announced that from now people aged 40-44 will be able to book their vaccination appointments.

If possible, booking should be done online at: COVID-19.HSCNI.NET/GET-VACCINATED

However, where online booking is not possible, the telephone booking number is 0300 200 7813.

Welcoming the announcement Health Minister Robin Swann stated “Vaccination is by far our best defence against COVID-19 and is essential to our goal of getting Northern Ireland out of lockdown on a sustainable basis."

People making bookings are asked to be patient.

The ongoing roll-out of the vaccination programme will continue to be dependent on the availability of vaccine supplies.

The Department of Health have said that progress to date would not have been possible without significant availability of AstraZeneca vaccines.

Yesterdays Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) stated that the benefits of vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine far outweigh any potential risks for people aged 30 and over and for those who have underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease, irrespective of age. 

In line with JCVI advice, people in Northern Ireland aged 18-29 who do not have an underlying medical condition will be offered an alternative vaccine, when this is available.

The Department of Health spokesperson added "It is very important that everyone who has already had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine gets their second dose of the same vaccine, irrespective of age.  The only exception is for the very small number of people who experienced blood clots with low platelet counts following their first dose."