Are you eligible for second vaccine booster?

Boosters are a top-up for your immune system. As the second Omicron wave gathers speed, those most at risk of getting really sick from Covid-19 are being prioritised for their second booster dose.

When Covid-19 Response Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall announced the Government was rolling out additional measures to tackle the second Omicron wave on

Thursday, she also encouraged those who could to get it.

Who can get a second booster?

■ People aged 50 and over

■ Healthcare, aged care and disability workers over 30 years old

■ Severely immuno-compromised people who received a three-dose primary course and a fourth dose as a first booster – this will be their fifth dose

■ People aged 16 years and over who have a medical condition that increases the risk of severe illness from Covid-19

■ People aged 16 years and over who live with disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple co-morbidities.

For all groups, it must be six months since your last booster and three months since testing positive for Covid-19, if you have had it.

A second booster is not yet available to younger people who are generally healthy and do not have underlying health conditions, even those who are pregnant.

Why do I need another dose?

After a few months, the vaccine’s protection starts to wear away.

Omicron is more virulent – that is, infectious – than Delta, so an extra shot will increase your immunity.

Winter means an increase of other illnesses in the community – the current flu outbreak is placing extra pressure on the country’s health system, according to the medical director of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and Porirua GP,

Bryan Betty. The fewer people who get seriously ill from Covid-19, the more space there will be in the already busy hospitals for those who need it.

Where do I get one?

The second booster shot is available from a range of places without a prescription, including walk-in and drive-through vaccination centres.

Book online using BookMyVaccine or by calling the Covid-19 Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26.