Everything you need to know about getting a covid-19 vaccine
The HSE COVID-19 vaccination programme is well and truly underway!
If you're planning on getting a vaccine, here's everything you need to know.
If you’re aged 16 and over, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine.
To get your vaccine at a HSE vaccination centre, you can register on hse.ie or pop along to a walk in vaccination clinic if there’s one near you.
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What you need for online registration
Registering online is easy! But before you get started, make sure you have the following details ready to share:
- A mobile phone number.
- An email address.
- Your PPS number – here's how to find your PPS number.
- Your Eircode – you can find your Eircode here or you can enter your address in the registration system.
If you do not have these things, call HSELive to register by phone instead.
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How to register online
Here are eight simple steps explaining how to register online:
- Go to the online COVID-19 vaccine registration page here and choose your group.
- Join the queue – when it's your turn, you'll have 10 minutes to accept your place on the system before it times out.
- Create your account – you will get a verification email.
- Click on the link in the verification email.
- You will then receive a verification text message (SMS).
- Enter the verification code from the text message and create a password.
- Enter your personal details.
- Review and confirm your details and finish your registration.
Once you register, you'll be sent a text message with your vaccination appointment details three to seven days before your appointment.
If you can't attend, you can ask for a new one.
In order to do this, you'll have to reply to your appointment text with the word, 'New.'
It's important to note you won’t be able to choose the day or time and you can only reschedule twice.
If you have any other queries or issues with online registration, click here.
The appointment
The HSE are urging people to attend appointments alone. This goes for walk-in clinics too.
This is to reduce the number of people at the vaccination centre.
It’s totally okay if someone drives you there, but they should stay in the car, unless they are getting vaccinated too.
Younger people aged 16 or 17 might like to bring a parent and that is ok.
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Your appointment will usually take around 30 minutes.
This includes:
- 15 minutes to get registered and vaccinated.
- 15 minutes of observation after the vaccine to make sure that you feel well before you leave.
We'd also advise wearing something that will make it easy for you to get the vaccine in your upper arm.
For example; a short-sleeved t-shirt or a loose shirt with a sleeve you can roll up easily.
You should also wear a face covering.
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What to bring to your appointment
Bring your appointment information to the vaccination centre; you'll find this on your mobile phone or in a letter.
You'll also need to bring a valid form of photo ID:
- Passport - book or card.
- Driving licence.
- Public Services Card.
- Travel pass.
- National Age Card - issued by the Gardaí.
It's so important that you don't forget this because you won't be vaccinated without a valid form of ID.
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And if you miss an appointment, don't worry, you'll be automatically scheduled in for a new one.
However, if you miss three appointments, they will stop scheduling new appointments for you and you’ll have to call HSELive on 1800 700 700 to get a new one.
There's plenty of information about the whole process on the HSE website if you want to check it out.
Just click here.
