COVID-19 Vaccine in Portlaoise
Free for eligible groups under the HSE autumn and winter 2026/27 programme. Stock is limited right now, so register below and we will ring or WhatsApp you with an appointment time.
Free for eligible groups under the HSE programme. Mon to Fri 9am to 6pm, Sat 9.30am to 6pm. Call 057 866 1999.
Register
Fill in the short form below on your phone. It takes about three minutes and covers your details, eligibility, a short health check and consent.
We contact you
As soon as a vaccine is available for you, we text or WhatsApp you with an appointment time.
Get vaccinated
Come to Lyster Square at your time. The vaccine is given by our pharmacist and you wait 15 minutes afterwards.
Register for your COVID-19 vaccine
Fill this in once. There is no paperwork when you arrive and we contact you with a time as soon as a vaccine is available for you.
How registration works
The form above is the quickest way to get a slot. Fill in one form per person. If you would like the flu vaccine at the same visit, tell us on the form or when we contact you.
We will ring you or message you on WhatsApp with a time. If you have no internet access, or you are registering for a parent or a neighbour, call us on 057 866 1999 or WhatsApp 085 840 7548 and we will add you to the list.
You do not need to see your GP first, and you do not need a referral or a prescription.
If you cannot make the time we give you, let us know as soon as you can so we can offer it to someone else and rebook you.
Walk-ins may not be possible until more stock arrives, so please register rather than calling in and risking a wasted trip. We work through registrations in the order they come in, with the groups the HSE recommends for vaccination first. We will update this page as stock improves.
Who can get a free COVID-19 vaccine
For autumn and winter 2026/27 the HSE recommends a COVID-19 vaccine for:
- Everyone aged 60 and over.
- Anyone aged 6 months and over with a weakened immune system because of an illness or a treatment.
- Anyone aged 6 months and over with a medical condition that puts them at higher risk. The conditions are listed in the next section.
- Adults aged 18 and over living in long-term care facilities for older adults. HSE vaccination teams visit nursing homes and residential care settings, so residents do not need to register with us.
A dose is also available to the following people if they choose it after talking it through with a pharmacist or GP:
- Anyone who is pregnant, in each pregnancy.
- Healthcare workers.
- Healthy adults aged 18 to 59, one dose a year.
If you are in any of these groups the vaccine is free. Not sure whether you qualify? Call us or ask at the counter and we will go through it with you.
Medical conditions that qualify
You are eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccine if you are aged 6 months or over and have one of these conditions:
- Cancer
- Chronic heart disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic neurological disease
- Chronic respiratory disease, such as COPD or severe asthma
- Diabetes and other metabolic disorders, including inherited metabolic disorders
- Haemoglobinopathies, such as sickle cell disease
- A weakened immune system due to disease or treatment
- A body mass index of 40 or more
- A serious mental health condition
- Down syndrome, children and adults
- Moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders in children
This list is not exhaustive. If your GP or consultant has told you that you are at higher risk from COVID-19, you can be vaccinated. The pharmacist can use clinical judgement, so ask if you are unsure.
Who is not recommended a COVID-19 vaccine this season
Some groups are recommended the flu vaccine but not the COVID-19 vaccine, unless they are also in one of the groups above:
- Carers and household contacts of people with chronic conditions.
- People in close, regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl.
- Children aged 2 to 17 with no medical condition. All children aged 2 to 17 are recommended the flu nasal spray instead. See our flu vaccine page.
Healthy adults aged 18 to 59 are not routinely recommended a COVID-19 vaccine or a flu vaccine. The HSE does say that one COVID-19 dose a year should be available to adults in this group who want it, after a conversation with a pharmacist or GP. Ask us. While stock is limited we are looking after the recommended groups first.
If you have never had a COVID-19 vaccine, it is not too late. Talk to the pharmacist. A first dose can be given after a discussion with a pharmacist, GP or HSE vaccinator.
Free, no medical card, and no private option
The COVID-19 vaccine is free for everyone in the eligible groups, and so is the flu vaccine. There is nothing to pay on the day.
You do not need a medical card, a GP visit card or a referral. Eligibility under the HSE programme is based on your age and your health, nothing else.
In Ireland the COVID-19 vaccine is supplied only through the HSE programme. It cannot be bought privately from any pharmacy, which is different from the UK. If you are not in a recommended group, talk to the pharmacist about whether a dose is available to you.
Flu and COVID-19 at the same visit
Yes, you can have both at the same appointment. The HSE says the two vaccines can be given together, and one trip is handier than two. You usually get one injection in each arm.
Flu eligibility is wider than COVID-19 eligibility, so you may qualify for a free flu vaccine even if you do not qualify for COVID-19. Our flu vaccine page has the details and its own registration form.
To have both, mention the flu vaccine when you register or when we contact you. Flu stock is limited at the moment as well.
When to have it and how often
How often you need a COVID-19 vaccine depends on your group:
- Aged 60 to 79, or aged 6 months to 59 with a medical condition: one dose a year. Autumn is the time to have it.
- Aged 80 and over, or with a weakened immune system at any age from 6 months: one dose twice a year, ideally six months apart.
- Living in long-term care for older adults: twice a year, six months apart, given by the HSE team in the facility.
Whichever group you are in, leave at least three months since your last COVID-19 vaccine.
Had COVID-19 recently? You can still have the vaccine once you have recovered. Tell us the date when you register and the pharmacist will advise on timing. Protection builds over about two weeks after the vaccine, so the earlier in the season you have it, the better.
Not sure when your last dose was? Your record is in the HSE Health App, or tell us and the pharmacist will check at your appointment.
Which vaccine will I get?
The vaccine the HSE is supplying to pharmacies for 2026/27 is Comirnaty, the updated Pfizer mRNA vaccine, for people aged 12 and over. It is updated each season to match the strains in circulation. The name and batch number of your vaccine go on your HSE vaccination record.
If your child is under 12 and in an eligible group, talk to your GP or call HSELive on 1800 700 700, as the vaccine we use in the pharmacy is for people aged 12 and over.
If you cannot have an mRNA vaccine, for example because of a serious reaction to a previous dose, talk to the pharmacist or your GP. The HSE says the non-mRNA vaccine Nuvaxovid is not currently available in Ireland, so we cannot offer it.
Before you come in
A few things to check before your appointment:
- Feeling unwell? If you have a temperature of 38 degrees or higher, or symptoms of COVID-19, wait until you are better and we will rebook you. A mild cold is fine.
- Serious allergic reaction before? If you had anaphylaxis after a previous COVID-19 vaccine, or you are allergic to any ingredient in the vaccine, tell us when you register. The pharmacist will check the ingredients with you and advise whether the vaccine is suitable or refer you to your GP.
- Heart inflammation after a previous dose? If you were diagnosed with myocarditis or pericarditis after any COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your GP or cardiologist before booking.
- On blood thinners? You can still have the vaccine. Tell the pharmacist so they can press on the injection site a little longer.
- Had another vaccine recently? Tell us. Most vaccines can be given alongside the COVID-19 vaccine, but the pharmacist will check.
What happens at your appointment
Your vaccine is given in our private consultation room by a pharmacist trained in vaccination. What to expect:
- A few questions. The pharmacist checks your eligibility, your health, your medicines, any allergies and when you last had a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Consent. We explain the vaccine and its side effects and ask you to sign a consent form. Ask anything you like at this point.
- The vaccine. One quick injection in the upper arm. If you are having flu as well, that usually goes in the other arm.
- A 15 minute wait. You stay in the pharmacy for 15 minutes so we can keep an eye on you. Serious allergic reactions are very rare, but if one happens the pharmacist is trained and equipped to treat it on the spot.
- Your record. We record your vaccine on the HSE system, so your vaccination history stays up to date.
Allow 20 to 30 minutes in total, including the wait.
Side effects
Most people have mild side effects, or none at all. The common ones are a sore arm, tiredness, a headache, muscle aches, chills or a slight temperature. They usually start within a day and settle within a day or two. Having no side effects does not mean the vaccine has not worked.
Serious reactions are rare. We wait with you for 15 minutes after the vaccine so that if an allergic reaction happens, we can treat it straight away.
Very rarely, chest pain, breathlessness or a fast or pounding heartbeat can happen in the days after an mRNA vaccine. If you notice any of these, get medical help urgently.
Suspected side effects from any vaccine can be reported to the Health Products Regulatory Authority at hpra.ie. Ask us if you would like help doing that.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
A COVID-19 vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy. The ideal time is between 20 and 34 weeks. It is recommended in each pregnancy if you have a weakened immune system or a qualifying medical condition, and it is available in each pregnancy to anyone who chooses it after talking it through with a pharmacist, GP or midwife. This applies all year round, not just in autumn.
The HSE advises that you can also have the vaccine if you are breastfeeding.
If you are pregnant and would like the vaccine, register using the form above. If you have questions first, talk to the pharmacist, your GP or your midwife.
Healthcare workers
The flu vaccine is recommended for all healthcare workers. A COVID-19 vaccine is recommended if you are also in one of the risk groups, and this winter the HSE has made a dose available to any healthcare worker who chooses to have one. Register using the form above and tell us where you work. If your employer offers vaccination through occupational health, that may be quicker while our stock is limited.
Where to find us
Laois Pharmacy
1 Dunamaise House, Lyster Square, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32 HD72
Open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, and Saturday 9.30am to 6pm.
Phone 057 866 1999. WhatsApp 085 840 7548.
We are on Lyster Square in the centre of Portlaoise.
Bring with you
- Your PPS number, if you have it handy. It helps us record your vaccine on the HSE system.
- A list of your current medicines, or your repeat prescription.
- Details of any serious allergies or any past reaction to a vaccine.
- The date of your last COVID-19 vaccine, if you know it. It is in the HSE Health App.
- A top with short or loose sleeves so we can reach your upper arm easily.
- Your reading glasses if you need them for the consent form.
- For children aged 12 to 15, a parent or guardian needs to be there to give consent.
- If you are having the flu vaccine as well, let us know when you arrive.
After your vaccine
- Stay in the pharmacy for 15 minutes after your vaccine so we can keep an eye on you.
- A sore arm, tiredness, a headache, mild aches, chills or a slight temperature are common for a day or two.
- Paracetamol can help with a sore arm or a temperature. Follow the pack, and ask us first if you take other medicines.
- Keep the arm moving and drink plenty of fluids.
- Rest if you feel tired. Most people are back to normal within a day or two.
- If you had the flu vaccine too, both arms may be sore. That is normal.
- Protection builds over about two weeks.
- Call us on 057 866 1999 or contact your GP if side effects last more than a few days or you are worried.
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, or a fast or pounding heartbeat in the days after the vaccine are rare but need urgent medical help. Contact your GP or go to the emergency department. Call 112 or 999 in an emergency.
- You can report a suspected side effect to the Health Products Regulatory Authority at hpra.ie, or ask us to help you do it.
Common questions
Is the COVID-19 vaccine free?
Yes, for everyone in the HSE eligible groups: people aged 60 and over, anyone aged 6 months and over with a weakened immune system or a qualifying medical condition, and the other groups listed on this page. There is nothing to pay and you do not need a medical card. The vaccine cannot be bought privately in Ireland, so if you are not in a recommended group, ask the pharmacist whether a dose is available to you.
Can I just walk in?
Not at the moment. Our stock is limited, so please register using the form on this page. We contact everyone who registers with an appointment time, in order, with the HSE recommended groups first. Once we have more vaccine we will update this page and open up walk-ins if we can.
How soon will I hear from you after I register?
We ring or WhatsApp people as vaccines arrive, in the order they registered, starting with the groups the HSE recommends. We cannot promise a date while stock is limited, but you will not be forgotten. If you are worried you have been missed, call us on 057 866 1999 and we will check you are on the list.
Can I get the flu vaccine at the same time?
Yes. The HSE says both vaccines can be given at the same visit, usually one in each arm. Mention flu when you register or when we contact you. You can also register for flu on its own at laoispharmacy.com/flu-vaccine/. Flu stock is limited right now too.
Do I need a medical card?
No. Free flu and COVID-19 vaccines under the HSE programme are based on your age and your health, not on a medical card or GP visit card.
How long should I wait after my last COVID-19 vaccine?
At least three months, whatever your group. People aged 60 to 79 and people with a medical condition have one dose a year, so an autumn 2026 dose is right if your last one was last autumn or earlier. People aged 80 and over and people with a weakened immune system have a dose twice a year, ideally six months apart. Not sure of the date? Check the HSE Health App, or tell us and the pharmacist will check your record.
I had COVID-19 recently. Should I wait?
Wait until you have recovered and have no symptoms. Tell us the date when you register or at your appointment and the pharmacist will advise on timing. If you have a temperature or feel unwell on the day, we will rebook you. A mild cold is fine.
Which vaccine will I get?
Comirnaty, the updated Pfizer mRNA vaccine the HSE is supplying for 2026/27, for people aged 12 and over. The pharmacist will go through the vaccine information with you, and the name and batch number go on your HSE record.
I am under 60 and healthy. Can I still get one?
The HSE does not routinely recommend it for healthy adults aged 18 to 59, but it says one dose a year should be available to adults in this group who choose it after a chat with a pharmacist or GP. Ask us. Because stock is limited we are looking after the recommended groups first.
Can I pay for a COVID-19 vaccine privately?
No. In Ireland the COVID-19 vaccine is supplied only through the HSE programme and cannot be bought privately, so it is different from the UK. If you are not in a recommended group, talk to the pharmacist, as one dose a year is available to adults aged 18 to 59 who choose it.
Can I have the vaccine in pregnancy?
Yes. It can be given at any stage of pregnancy, ideally between 20 and 34 weeks. It is recommended in each pregnancy if you have a weakened immune system or a qualifying condition, and available to anyone who is pregnant and chooses it after discussing it with a pharmacist, GP or midwife. The HSE advises you can also have it while breastfeeding.
Can children get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Children aged 6 months to 17 are recommended a COVID-19 vaccine only if they have a weakened immune system or an underlying medical condition. All children aged 2 to 17 are recommended the flu nasal spray. The COVID-19 vaccine we use in the pharmacy is for people aged 12 and over. For younger children in an eligible group, talk to your GP or call HSELive on 1800 700 700. Children aged 12 to 15 need a parent or guardian with them to give consent.
I have never had a COVID-19 vaccine. Is it too late to start?
No. Talk to the pharmacist. A first dose can be given after a discussion with a pharmacist, GP or HSE vaccinator, and the pharmacist will tell you how many doses you need.
Is there any reason I should not have the vaccine?
Very few people cannot have it. If you had a serious allergic reaction to a previous COVID-19 vaccine or to one of its ingredients, or you were diagnosed with myocarditis or pericarditis after an mRNA vaccine, tell us when you register and talk to your GP. If you are unwell with a temperature of 38 degrees or higher, wait until you are better.
What are the side effects?
Most are mild and short-lived: a sore arm, tiredness, a headache, muscle aches, chills or a slight temperature for a day or two. Serious reactions are rare. We ask you to wait 15 minutes afterwards so we can help if you feel unwell. Very rarely, chest pain, breathlessness or a racing heartbeat in the days after an mRNA vaccine can happen and should be checked urgently.
How long does it take to work?
Protection builds over about two weeks after the vaccine, so the earlier in the season you have it, the better.
Do I need to see my GP first?
No. You can register directly with us. No referral or prescription is needed.
How do I check when I last had a COVID-19 vaccine?
Your COVID-19 vaccination record is in the HSE Health App. If you cannot find it, tell us and the pharmacist can check at your appointment.
I am a carer. Am I eligible?
Carers and household contacts of people with chronic conditions are recommended the flu vaccine, but not the COVID-19 vaccine unless they are also in another risk group, for example aged 60 or over or with a qualifying medical condition. You can register for the flu vaccine at laoispharmacy.com/flu-vaccine/.
I work in healthcare. Can I get it?
The flu vaccine is recommended for all healthcare workers. A COVID-19 vaccine is recommended if you are also in another risk group, and this winter the HSE has made a dose available to any healthcare worker who chooses one. Register using the form on this page and tell us where you work.
What if I cannot make my appointment?
Ring us on 057 866 1999 or WhatsApp 085 840 7548 as soon as you know. We will offer the slot to the next person on the list and rebook you.
Can I drive home afterwards?
Yes, as long as you feel well after your 15 minute wait. If you feel faint or unwell, tell us and we will look after you until you are right.
Ready to register?
Three minutes now, no paperwork later. We will be in touch with a time.
Laois Pharmacy, 1 Dunamaise House, Lyster Square, Portlaoise, R32 HD72