Flu + COVID-19 Booster Autumn/Winter Vaccination Service
CarePlus Pharmacy Combined Flu & COVID-19 Vaccination Service 2025/2026
This winter, protect yourself from both seasonal flu and COVID-19. Our combined vaccination service allows you to receive two separate vaccines—your seasonal flu vaccine and your COVID-19 vaccine—during a single, convenient appointment. Getting both is the most effective way to reduce your risk of serious illness.
Booking Your Combined Vaccination Appointment
Our booking system for the Autumn/Winter 2025/2026 combined vaccination service is now open. Appointments are expected to be available from mid-to-late September, when both HSE programmes are fully underway.
You can join the waitlist or book your appointment online at selected CarePlus Pharmacies* by clicking the “Book Now” button. For pharmacies that do not offer online booking, please call or visit them directly to inquire about scheduling an appointment.
*Please note: Appointments are subject to vaccine availability, pharmacist availability, and eligibility criteria. Registering your interest does not guarantee a vaccination. Available at selected CarePlus Pharmacies only.
Why Get Both Vaccines?
Different viruses cause seasonal flu and COVID-19, and each can lead to serious illness. The flu vaccine protects you from the influenza virus, while the COVID-19 vaccine protects you from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A vaccine for one will not protect you from the other, which is why getting both is the best way to ensure comprehensive protection this winter.
Who Can Get Both Vaccines at the Same Time?
You can receive both the flu and COVID-19 vaccine at the same appointment if you are eligible for both. This includes the following groups recommended by the HSE:
- People aged 60 and over.
- Those aged 18 years and older living in long-term care facilities.
- Pregnant women (the COVID-19 vaccine is recommended if you have other risk factors and available by choice if you do not).
- Healthcare workers.
- Anyone aged 6 months or older with a weakened immune system (immunocompromised) or an eligible medical condition.
Eligible Medical Conditions
The following medical conditions are associated with a higher risk of both flu and COVID-19:
- Cancer.
- Chronic heart disease.
- Chronic kidney disease.
- Chronic liver disease.
- Chronic neurological disease.
- Chronic respiratory disease.
- Diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
- Haemoglobinopathies.
- A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40kg/m2 or more.
- A weakened immune system (immunocompromise) due to disease or treatment.
- Serious mental health conditions.
- Down syndrome.
Who Should Not Get Both Vaccines at the Same Time?
There are no specific contraindications to receiving both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines simultaneously. The decision is based on your suitability for each immunisation.
You should not get the combined service if you have a reason not to get either the flu vaccine or the COVID-19 vaccine.
Check your suitability for the Flu Vaccine (Injection)
You should not get the flu vaccine if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose or any of its ingredients. You should also speak to the pharmacist if you have a severe egg allergy that requires admission to an ICU.
Check your suitability for the COVID-19 Vaccine
You should not get the COVID-19 vaccine if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or any of its components, including PEG.
If you are unsure about your eligibility for either vaccine, please speak to our pharmacist, who can review your individual circumstances.
Your Combined Vaccination Appointment
During your appointment:
- Our pharmacist will administer both vaccines during your single visit.
- To minimise discomfort, the two injectable vaccines will typically be given in different arms.
- After your vaccinations, you will be asked to remain in the pharmacy for a mandatory 15-minute observation period, as is standard for all COVID-19 vaccinations.
After your vaccination:
- You will be given a record of your vaccinations.
- With your consent, the details of your vaccinations will be recorded on the HSE's central IT system to update your immunisation record.
Side Effects of Combined Vaccination
Receiving both vaccines at once is safe, and the side effects are similar to those experienced when receiving them individually. You may experience slightly more noticeable short-term side effects for a day or two.
- Common side effects include soreness or swelling at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle aches, and fever.
- If your child receives the nasal flu vaccine, they may experience a runny or blocked nose.
If required, you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve these symptoms.
Do not give Aspirin to children for 4 weeks after vaccination unless prescribed by a doctor.
Where Can I Get More Information?
For further details, please speak with your CarePlus Pharmacist, visit our FAQs, or refer to the official HSE websites.
- HSE Information on the Flu Vaccine: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/flu/
- HSE Information on the COVID-19 Vaccine: https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/
The immunity provided by previous Covid vaccines/boosters or from having Covid gets lower over time, so the booster will increase your protection by reminding your immune system to prepare for the threat as Covid infection rates rise this autumn and winter.
For this reason, it’s important to have the booster even if you’ve had all the other recommended Covid vaccines or had Covid and experienced a mild illness.
If you have missed a previous Covid-19 booster dose, you will only need to have the autumn booster dose.
You will have either the Moderna (Spikevax) or Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) bivalent vaccine, dependant on stock and in line with National Immunisation Authorisation Committee (NIAC) recommendations.
These adapted booster vaccinations have been approved by the Irish medicines regulator, the Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
They are different to the vaccines given as first and second doses and for previous boosters.
They are bivalent vaccines, which means they are designed to provide protection against two Covid strains – the original ‘wild’ virus and Omicron.
Clinical trials show they trigger a strong immune response. They lower the chance of infection and provide a high level of protection against severe illness from Covid, which could lead to a hospital stay.
Covid and flu now pose a double winter threat.
Key to the vaccines being effective is giving them early enough. Having both at the same time where offered – one in each arm - limits any delay in protection. Keep in mind that it usually takes around two weeks for your body to build up some protection following vaccination.
Having them at the same time is more convenient as it saves you having to return for a second appointment.
(Please note that it’s not always possible to offer both vaccinations at the same time.)
Having both the recommended Covid booster and flu vaccination at the same time - one in each arm - is safe and does not affect how the vaccines work. Many healthcare workers had them this way in 2021 and again this year.
There’s no scientific evidence to say the side effects will be worse if you have both the Covid autumn booster and flu vaccination at the same time.
Studies show the side effects from the Covid boosters are the same as for the original vaccinations and are typically mild and get better on their own after a couple of days.
Some people don’t get any side effects, but they can include soreness and pain around the injection site, generally feeling unwell with aches and pains, possibly a slight fever or a headache.
These symptoms are caused by your body’s immune system reacting in the correct way to the vaccines. It is preparing your immune response by producing antibodies, which are like the soldiers of the immune system, in case you should come into contact with the actual viruses.
But if you have a high fever and symptoms which are not going away and you are worried, call your GP surgery.
The vaccinations are safe, help protect you and your baby and are recommended during any stage of pregnancy and breastfeeding.
They do not affect fertility, cause miscarriage, premature birth or stillbirth.
Yes, but it is not recommended for the reasons stated above:
Covid and flu now pose a double winter threat.
Key to the vaccines being effective is giving them early enough. Having both at the same time where offered – one in each arm - limits any delay in protection. Keep in mind that it usually takes around two weeks for your body to build up some protection following vaccination.
Having them at the same time is more convenient as it saves you having to return for a second appointment
The flu vaccine cannot give you flu and the Covid vaccine cannot give you Covid. This is because neither contain a live virus.
The flu vaccines approved for use in adults in the Ireland this autumn protect against four strains of the flu virus; two A strains and two B strains.
Scientists look at what strains of flu have been circulating in the southern hemisphere, so the strains in the vaccine may cover those circulating here this winter.
The flu vaccine used for adults 18 and over is known as the QIV and is cell not egg based so is suitable for those with egg allergies.
Flu vaccine effectiveness does vary from year to year, but we know the vaccines reduce your risk of catching flu and, if you do still catch flu, it means you’re more likely to get a milder dose.
It’s much safer to have the vaccinations.
We know they reduce the chance of infection and provide a high-level of protection against serious illness.
A cold or other minor illness is not a reason to delay vaccination. However, if you have a high temperature or have Covid-19, please rearrange your appointment. And remember, you’ll need to wait four months after having Covid before you can have the booster.