The Health Service Executive has said it has asked vaccination centres to facilitate people to get their Covid-19 vaccine booster dose at three months, after their second vaccine.
The HSE said it has issued this advice pending the updating of its IT systems to reflect the new guidance from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee.
It said it has asked centres to accommodate people, if at all possible, once they otherwise qualify for a booster.
Details of a new accelerated plan for the roll-out of booster vaccines are still being worked on by the HSE and the Department of Health.
Last night, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced that the gap between the second Covid-19 vaccine dose and the booster dose is to be cut to three months, after a recommendation by NIAC.
Up to now, the gap was set at a minimum of five months.
In a statement, the HSE said that in order to give people maximum opportunity to get their booster and to use all capacity in the programme, it is using vaccination centres, GPs and pharmacies as vaccinations channels.
It said it is constantly looking at the operational model to ensure the most efficient roll-out of the Covid-19 booster programme possible.
The HSE also said it has extended the number of opening hours of many walk-in vaccination centres around the country in recent weeks.
Appointments also remain a key focus of the vaccination programme, it said, adding that centres conduct appointment-based clinics at times when they do not have walk-in clinics advertised.
The HSE said it is advising people if they do not intend on going to a walk-in, they can wait for their appointment.
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These are designated appointment only clinics, it said, to ensure those with scheduled appointments can avail of their booster vaccine at the appointed time.
The HSE said that as of 13 December, 1,142,703 additional doses had been administered.
The HSE website said a number of vaccine centres are operating walk-in clinics for boosters, but not for all cohorts.
50 to 69 year olds
The National Show Centre at Swords in Dublin is open for this age group, as well as for healthcare workers and those who are receiving a first or second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Walk-in clinics are also available for those aged 50 to 69 in counties Cavan, Donegal, Limerick, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford and Tipperary.
60 to 69 year olds
The HSE says clinics are open today for boosters for this age group in counties Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Laois and Mayo.
50 to 59 year olds
Shoreline Leisure Centre in Greystones, Co Wicklow has said it is receiving people aged 50 to 59 for a walk-in booster dose. It will receive those aged 60 to 69 tomorrow.
In Galway, 50 to 59 year olds can attend a walk-in centre in Ballybrit today, as well as Saturday and Sunday.
Healthcare workers
Healthcare workers can receive their booster at walk-in clinics in counties Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath and Wexford, and at the National Show Centre in Swords in Dublin.
No walk-in clinics in some counties
There are no walk-in clinics in operation in eight counties today; Clare, Waterford, Sligo, Roscommon, Louth, Leitrim, Kilkenny and Kerry.
However, the HSE website lists the days that these centres will be open in the coming days and weeks.
The HSE has said it is currently offering booster doses to those aged 50 and over, those living in a nursing home or long-term care facility, healthcare workers, and those aged 16 to 49 with an underlying condition.
If a person is 30 years or older they will receive a single dose of Pfizer or Moderna as their booster. If they are 29 years or younger, they will receive a single dose of Pfizer.
People can receive these vaccines even if they got an AstraZeneca or Janssen vaccine in their primary vaccination schedule.
The HSE said those who are eligible for a booster do not to need to have received a text message before attending walk-in clinics.
"If you get a text, great, follow that text instruction", Eileen Kelly, the Principal Clinical Lead at the vaccination centre in Swords, Dublin said.
"If you don't get a text, you can still attend a walk-in."
However, she is advising people to check the HSE website before travelling to clinics to ensure their eligibility.
"Ccurrently, we're over 50s," she said. "Shortly we'll be moving to the over 40s.
"But check the website. It'll always be very clear as to what the times are and what cohort is eligible.
"We don't want people disappointed when they've queued, because inherent in walk-in clinics is that there will be some element of queuing."
Hundreds of people queuing here at the National Show Centre in Swords and it hasn't even opened yet #covid #vaccine pic.twitter.com/O74Z2IvNZJ
— Lisa Pereira (@lisa_pereira) December 14, 2021
Ms Kelly said appointments are also available for vaccination centres for people who opt not to avail of the walk-in clinics.
"We schedule appointments and you'll get that text as your appointment time becomes ready."
She said people can also make a booking to receive their booster with participating pharmacies and GPs, but cautioned that not all pharmacies are participating.
If people do get a booster shot at a walk-in clinic or pharmacy, they are asked to cancel any appointments they are sent, by replying with the word 'reject' to the text.
It is understood officials met yesterday to discuss a range of issues to increase the output of vaccines.
These include redeploying health staff from what is deemed "non-urgent services" to the booster programme.
Already, 1.2 million booster jabs have already been dispensed and the HSE is targeting 1.5m by Christmas.
More than 50% of those in most vulnerable groups are understood to have received a booster.
Some members of the public have described the current Covid-19 booster system as confusing. More than 1,000 people attended the morning walk-in clinic session at the Swords vaccination centre in Dublin today | https://t.co/vtVmrHgNOD pic.twitter.com/Q1LaKAXtNJ
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) December 14, 2021
Some members of the public say the current system for administering booster vaccines is confusing.
Hundreds of people had queued outside the National Show Centre in Swords, well before the clinic opened its doors at 10.10am.
One man who attended the centre told RTÉ News that "it is a bit confusing", saying there is "a bit too much information really on the [HSE] website."
A woman who received her booster said "it is very confusing listening to the ministers speak and whatever else they say, that you can walk in to any vaccination centre or you can go to chemists, but that's not the case."
Additional reporting: Helen Donohue, Fergal O'Brien
