Why you need to stay up to date with your vaccinations
Having COVID-19 does not provide the same level of immunity as getting vaccinated. We also know that your protection from the primary course of the vaccine decreases over time.
To keep your immunity levels high, stay up to date with your vaccinations — including boosters. This will lower your chances of getting very sick from COVID-19 and ending up in hospital.
Boosters provide an extra layer of protection to previous vaccination and help your immunity be stronger and last longer.
If you have had COVID-19 and are eligible for a booster, you can get it 3 months after you tested positive.
Book your booster
Who can get a first booster
You can get a first booster if you:
- are aged 16 or over
- have completed your primary course of the vaccine (for most people, this is 2 doses).
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.
Who can get a second booster
You can get a second booster if you are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
This includes:
- all people aged 50 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 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.
If you are eligible, you can get your second booster 6 months after your first booster.
Medical conditions that increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 | Ministry of Health (external link)
If you are not eligible for a second booster
A second booster is not yet needed by younger people who are generally healthy and do not have underlying health conditions. This includes people who are currently healthy and pregnant.
If you are not considered at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, a 2-dose primary course and a booster dose provides very good protection against severe illness from COVID-19.
