COVID-19 vaccine boosters

Boosters provide an extra layer of protection to your previous vaccination and keep your immunity levels high. Booster doses use the Pfizer BA.4/5 bivalent vaccine.

Latest update — 1 March 2023

The Pfizer BA.4/5 COVID-19 bivalent vaccine is now the vaccine used for booster doses.

From 1 April, anyone who has completed a primary vaccination course (for most people, this is 2 doses) will be eligible to get another booster if you are:

  • aged 30 and over or
  • at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

This is regardless of how many boosters you have had. If you are eligible for this extra booster from 1 April, it will need to be at least 6 months since your last COVID-19 booster or a positive COVID-19 test.

New booster plan in time for winter

Why you need a booster

Protection from the primary course (this is usually 2 doses) of the vaccine decreases over time. Staying up to date with your vaccinations keeps your immunity levels high. This will lower your chances of getting very sick from COVID-19 and ending up in hospital.

The Pfizer BA.4/5 bivalent vaccine is now the vaccine used for boosters. The bivalent vaccine produces an immune response against the original virus and Omicron variants, specifically the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.

Current evidence indicates that the bivalent vaccine is more effective against Omicron subvariants than earlier vaccines.

If you are eligible and do not want to get the bivalent vaccine for your booster dose, you can ask for the original Pfizer vaccine when you arrive for your vaccination.


First boosters

You can get a first booster if you:

  • are aged 16 or over
  • have completed your primary course of the vaccine.

A primary course for most people is 2 doses. People who are severely immunocompromised can get a third primary dose, so would have a 3-dose primary course.

When you can get your first booster

If you are aged 16 or 17, you can get a Pfizer booster 6 months after your last dose.

If you are 18 or over, you can get a Pfizer booster 3 months after your last dose, or a Novavax booster 6 months after your last dose.


Second boosters

You can get a second booster if you are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

This includes:

  • everyone aged 50 and over
  • Māori and Pacific peoples aged 40 and over
  • healthcare, aged care and disability workers aged 30 and over
  • residents of aged care and disability care facilities
  • severely immunocompromised people who received a 3-dose primary course and a fourth dose as a first booster (this would be a fifth dose for these people)
  • people aged 16 and over who live with a disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple comorbidities
  • people aged 16 and over with a medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 illness.

Clinical criteria in support of second booster eligibility | Ministry of Health (external link)

When you can get your second booster

If you are eligible, you can get your second booster 6 months after your first booster.


Additional bivalent booster

From 1 April 2023, anyone who has completed a primary course (for most people, this is 2 doses) will be eligible to get another booster if you are:

  • aged 30 and over or
  • at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

This is regardless of how many boosters you have had.

High-risk groups include:

  • people aged 65 years and over
  • Māori and Pacific peoples aged 50 years and over
  • residents of aged care and disability care facilities
  • severely immunocompromised people
  • people aged 16 and over who live with a disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple comorbidities
  • people aged 16 and over with a medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 illness.

When you can get your additional booster

This additional booster will be available from 1 April if you are eligible.

You can get this additional booster 6 months after your last COVID-19 vaccine or a positive COVID-19 test.

You can book your additional bivalent booster from late March.


Find out when your last vaccination was

You can check the date of your last vaccination in My Covid Record.

Visit My Covid Record (external link)

To find out over the phone, call the COVID Vaccination Healthline. You can call between 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.

Call: 0800 28 29 26


If you have had COVID-19

Having COVID-19 does not provide the same level of immunity as getting vaccinated.

If you have had COVID-19 and are eligible for a booster, you can get it 3 months after you tested positive.

From 1 April, the gap between testing positive and getting a booster will become 6 months.


Book a COVID-19 vaccination

Book online

It is free, fast and easy to book or change your appointments using the website Book My Vaccine.

Book My Vaccine (external link)

Before you book, check the appointment availability map. It can show you where vaccination sites are, how soon you can get an appointment, and which vaccine types are available.

Appointment availability map | bookmyvaccine.health.nz (external link)

If you need help

If you have problems booking or need to change your details, email booking@vaccine.covid19.health.nz

Book over the phone

The COVID-19 Vaccination Healthline is available from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.

You can ask for an interpreter if you need one.

Call: 0800 28 29 26


Walk-in vaccination centres

There are many places around New Zealand where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine without an appointment.

COVID-19 vaccinations, no appointment required | Healthpoint (external link)


Getting proof of your booster

When you get a booster it is added to My Covid Record. You can then download another International Travel Vaccination Certificate or vaccination record.

Visit My Covid Record (external link)


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