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Eligibility for the vaccine

Wales is following the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice on eligibility which is based on evidence on who is most at risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19.  

Adults 

 All adults aged 18 and over have now been offered two doses of the vaccine in Wales.  

Anyone who has not yet received their vaccination should contact their health board for an appointment. They will also be able to give you information about walk-in centres if available in your area. 

Please click the appropriate health board link here.

You should not attend a vaccine appointment if you have COVID-19 symptoms or are: 

  •  self-isolating
  •  waiting for a COVID-19 test result or 
  • within 4 weeks of having a positive COVID-19 test  or symptoms

Children and young people 

Children and young people aged 5 to 17 years who are not at greater risk of serious illness from COVID infection should be offered their first and second dose of Pfizer vaccine 12 weeks apart.  

Children and young people aged 5-17 with certain health conditions are at higher risk of complications from COVID-19 and are recommended 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine 8 weeks apart. These include: 

  • cancers (such as leukaemia or lymphoma) 
  • diabetes 
  • serious heart problems 
  • chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including poorly controlled asthma 
  • kidney, liver or a gut disease 
  • lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (steroid medication, chemotherapy or radiotherapy) 
  • an organ transplant 
  • a neurodisability or neuromuscular condition 
  • a severe or profound learning disability 
  • Down’s syndrome 
  • a problem with your spleen, eg sickle cell disease, or you have had your spleen removed 
  • epilepsy 
  • serious genetic problems 

For more information go to the Green Book COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

How do I get the vaccine if I am a child or young person who is eligible?

There is no need to call your GP to ask about an appointment. You will be contacted by your health board about when and where you can get vaccinated.
This will vary depending on where you live in Wales, but it will probably be in a vaccination centre or school setting. 

You should not attend a vaccine appointment if you are: 

  •  self-isolating
  • waiting for a COVID-19 test result or have symptoms

If you are not in a group that is at greater risk of serious illness from COVID-19 you need to wait 12 weeks following COVID infection before getting your vaccine. This interval may be reduced to eight weeks in healthy under 18 year olds should this be required by the Chief Medical Officer to reduce transmission or hospitalisation.

You need to wait 4 weeks after COVID infection before vaccination if you are in a group that is at greater risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

For more information go to the Green Book COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

COVID-19 vaccination and severe immunosuppression – third primary dose

People who were severely immunosuppressed (had a very weakened immune system because of a health condition or medical treatment) when they received the first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine may not have made a good immune response to the vaccine. 

The JCVI have recommended that these individuals aged 5 years and over will need a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This includes those who had or have:

  • blood cancers (such as leukaemia or lymphoma)
  • lowered immunity due to treatment (such as high dose steroid medication, biological therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy)
  • lowered immunity due to inherited disorders of the immune system
  • an organ or bone marrow transplant
  • disease that affects the immune system (such as poorly controlled HIV)
  • other disease or treatments (as advised by a specialist)

This third dose is not a booster – it is an additional dose of vaccine which aims to increase levels of protection for these individuals. Severely immunosuppressed individuals who are 12 years and older are eligible for a booster no sooner than 3 months after their third primary dose. They are then eligible for an additional booster around six months later (and not before three months). 

For more information go to the Green Book COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)..

COVID-19 booster programme 

 The JCVI recommended a COVID-19 booster programme starting in the autumn of 2021. The eligible groups for the autumn booster campaign are:

  • all adults over the age of 18 years
  • pregnant women
  • children and young people aged 16 to 17 years
  • children and young people aged 12 to 15 who are in a clinical risk group or who are a household contact of someone who is immunosuppressed
  • children and young people aged 12 to 15 years who are severely immunosuppressed and who have had a third primary dose

An additional COVID-19 booster programme has been recommended by the JCVI starting in spring 2022. The eligible groups for the spring booster campaign are: 

  • all adults 75 years and older 
  • residents in care homes for older people 
  • those aged 12 years or over with a weakened immune system 

If you are eligible for a spring booster you will be offered this between March and June 2022, around six months (and not before three months) after your last dose of vaccine. 

You do not need to have had a booster to be eligible. If you have not had your first booster before March 2022 then only a spring booster will be needed before the autumn. 

Appointments for those will be scheduled by your health board in line with the latest JCVI advice and in accordance with age and clinical vulnerability.   

If you're eligible for a COVID 19 booster vaccine, you will be contacted by your health board for an appointment. Please wait to be contacted. You are advised to take the appointment offered and prioritise it ahead of other activities where possible. 

Information on how to contact your health board can be found at the link below:

Get your COVID-19 vaccination | GOV.WALES.