COVID-19 vaccine boosters

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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)

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)