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COVID-19 vaccine booster

Also called COVID booster shot

Key points about COVID-19 vaccine booster

A COVID booster dose is an extra dose (or doses) of the vaccine.
Anyone who is eligible to get their booster dose of the COVID vaccine is encouraged to get it as soon as they can.
Boosters lower your chances of getting very sick from COVID-19 and needing care in hospital.

Health professional and patient in consultation room looking at vaccine page on computer

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A COVID-19 booster is an additional vaccine dose given after the primary vaccination course.

Booster doses are given to 'boost' the immune response.
Booster doses are necessary because protection from 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 needing care in hospital.

The following groups are the most likely to benefit from a booster dose:

- Anyone 65 years of age and older.
- Māori and Pacific Peoples 50 years of age and older.
- People living in aged care facilities.
- People 12 years of age and over who are severely immunocompromised or have a medical condition that puts them at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

You can get a booster if you are:

16 years of age and older
12 years of age or older with a medical condition that increases your risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

How many booster doses can I have?

If you're 30 years of age or older you can have a booster regardless of the number of boosters you've had already.
If you're 16 to 29 years of age and healthy you can have 1 booster dose. Additional booster doses are available if you:

- are severely immunocompromised
- are pregnant
- have a medical condition that increases your risk of severe illness from COVID-19
- live with disability and have significant or complex health needs or multiple comorbidities (health conditions).

Who can't get a COVID-19 vaccine booster?

Healthy tamariki under 16 years of age are not eligible for boosters. Children have a good immune response, and are much less likely to get severe disease or need to go to hospital if they get COVID-19.

If you have concerns, discuss your child's specific clinical circumstances with your healthcare provider.

To get a booster you must have had at least 1 COVID-19 vaccination.

You can get your booster 6 months after your last COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 infection.

You can check the date of your last vaccination by:

looking online at My Health Record (formerly My Covid Record) – read more about My Health Record(external link) and watch videos on creating an account for yourself and your whānau in the more information section below
asking your doctor or the healthcare provider who vaccinated you
calling the COVID vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays).

You can get your booster dose at the same time as any other vaccine on the National Immunisation Schedule(external link). Read more about the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines.

Book an appointment through Book My Vaccine(external link)
Book over the phone – call the Vaccination Healthline team on 0800 28 29 26 between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays).
Find a provider near you on the Healthpoint(external link) website by entering your address and other requirements (eg, disability assistance or type of provider).

The preferred booster vaccine in Aotearoa New Zealand is a monovalent booster vaccine called Pfizer BioNTech JN.1 vaccine.

It can be given to people 12 years of age and older.
This vaccine is considered to be more effective against the most recent subvariants found in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Yes, it's recommended that you get your booster shot, even if you've had COVID. A booster can provide a stronger immunity response than the natural immunity from a COVID-19 infection.

If you've had COVID-19, it's recommended that you wait 6 months after testing positive before getting a COVID-19 vaccination.

Yes, boosters are strongly recommended if you're pregnant, especially if you also have health conditions that put you at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Read more about COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy(external link).

To get a booster, you must be 16 years of age or older, and:

you must have had at least 1 COVID-19 vaccination
it’s recommended you wait at least 6 months since your last COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 infection

Discuss the timing of a booster with your midwife, obstetrician or doctor.

Side effects of booster doses are similar to those from primary vaccine doses. Side effects include pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, headache, nausea and feeling tired or fatigued. Read more about the Pfizer vaccine.

Read more about medicines and side effects and reporting a reaction you think might be a side effect.

COVID-19 vaccine topics
Who gives vaccinations and where can I find them?
COVID-19: Key information

The following links provide further information on the COVID-19 vaccine booster:

COVID-19 vaccines additional doses(external link) Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, NZ
Video: Creating your My Health account using your healthcare provider(external link) Ministry of Health, NZ
Video: Creating your My Health account using an identity document(external link) Ministry of Health, NZ