COVID-19 Vaccinations

COVID-19

STORE FINDER MAP FIND A STORE BY STATE CORPORATE COVID-19 VACCINATION SERVICE

Whether it’s your first dose or you need a booster, Ramsay Pharmacy offers quick and easy vaccination services for COVID-19 all over Australia – close to work, close to home or convenient when you’re out and about.

Simply book online or walk in and our qualified pharmacist will administer your vaccination in a private consultation area, efficiently and professionally.

We are an approved provider for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Please check your eligibility below before booking or walking in.

Who should receive a primary course of COVID-19 vaccine?

All people aged 5 years and over are recommended to receive a primary course (the first 2 doses) of a COVID-19 vaccine. Children aged from 6 months to 4 years who have risk factors1 for severe COVID-19 should receive a 3-dose primary course from their GP.

Who should receive booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine?

The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care updates its advice on who should receive a booster dose, and when they should receive a booster dose from time to time. This advice can be found here, and currently states:

For people without risk factors1:

Age group 2023 booster dose2 Additional 2023 booster dose3
0-17 years Not recommended Not recommended
18-64 years Should be considered Not recommended
65-74 years Actively recommended Should be considered
75 years+ Actively recommended Actively recommended

For people with risk factors1:

Age group 2023 booster dose2 Additional 2023 booster dose3
0-4 years Not recommended Not recommended
5-17 years Should be considered Not recommended
18-64 years Actively recommended Consider if severely immunocompromised4,5
65-74 years Actively recommended Should be considered4
75 years+ Actively recommended Actively recommended

Please note that 2023 advice is still current into 2024, until updated advice is provided (expected around February 2024).

When should I receive a booster dose?

Booster doses should be given at least 6 months after the last COVID-19 vaccine dose, or at least 6 months after a confirmed COVID-19 infection (whichever is later). There may be circumstances where you should receive your booster dose earlier (e.g. before overseas travel); talk to your Ramsay Pharmacist if you think this applies.

Which vaccines are available?

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advises that monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccines are preferred for all doses, for people aged 5 years and over (where a suitable vaccine is available).

Pfizer COMIRNATY Omicron XBB.1.5 (raxtozinameran) and Moderna SPIKEVAX XBB.1.5 (andusomeran) are available. Contact your local Ramsay Pharmacist to find out which vaccines are available, and which age groups can be vaccinated.

From February 2024, Novavax NUVAXOVID COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be available.

Booking your COVID-19 vaccination (including booster doses):

Booking your vaccination or booster with us is easy. Simply select your state from the list below to find the most convenient Ramsay Pharmacy location for you, then click through to book online.

If you prefer to book over the phone, just give your local Ramsay Pharmacy a call. You’ll find their contact details in the list below under your state.

Alternatively, you are welcome to walk in and see if the pharmacist is available.

Preparing for your appointment:

It’s important you are in good health for any vaccination appointment. Please do not come to your appointment if:

  • You are feeling unwell with fever, cough, runny nose or other symptoms that could be from COVID-19
  • You are waiting for COVID-19 test results, or have tested positive for COVID-19
  • You are a close contact of someone with COVID-19
  • You are in quarantine

If you have had another vaccine in the 7 days before your COVID-19 vaccine appointment, please let us know. However, COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to still be safe and effective when administered with other vaccines, including routine childhood and adolescent vaccines.

If you are unable to make it to your vaccination appointment, please contact your Ramsay Pharmacy to arrange a new appointment. For more information, visit the Australian Government Department of Health.

Find a participating store below the FAQs and book your vaccination or booster dose

1. Risk factors for severe COVID-19 include those with a medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 illness (see Australian Immunisation Handbook), or those with a disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple comorbidities that increase the risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19.

2. See ATAGI February 2023 guidance for more information.

3. See ATAGI September 2023 guidance for more information

4. Talk to your pharmacist immuniser on whether this dose is appropriate

5. For details, see ATAGI recommendations on the use of a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine in individuals who are severely immunocompromised.

We answer some of your important COVID-19 questions below in our FAQs:

No COVID-19 vaccines have been created using live viruses, nor can you catch or shed COVID-19 after vaccination. All COVID-19 vaccines available in Australia have been shown to be effective and safe.

Moderna: The Moderna vaccine is a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. This is a different way of developing vaccines; conventional vaccines are often produced using either fragments or weakened forms of the virus, but mRNA vaccines use only parts of the virus’s genetic code. mRNA acts as a set of instructions, and tells your body how to produce fragments of the COVID-19 virus known as spike proteins. When the spike proteins are produced from mRNA ‘instructions’, the proteins are then ‘displayed’ on the surface of some cells in your body. Your immune system recognises these proteins as being foreign, and starts preparing its own defences known as antibodies to fight coronavirus.

When spike proteins are produced by your body and displayed on the surface of cells, it creates a stronger immune reaction and better protection than conventional vaccines.

mRNA vaccines such as Moderna have been shown to be safe and effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and can be given to eligible people over 12 years of age.

The Moderna mRNA vaccine must be stored at ultra-cold temperatures (-15°C to -25°C), however can be stored for up to one month at normal refrigerated conditions. The Moderna vaccine is being manufactured in the United States, Switzerland and Spain.

From late 2023, only Moderna Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccines are available in Australia.

Pfizer: The Pfizer vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, and almost mirrors the Moderna vaccine in how it works and in effectiveness. It has also been shown to be safe and effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and can also be given to eligible people over 5 years of age using a special paediatric vaccine.

The Pfizer mRNA vaccine must be stored at ultra-cold temperatures (-70°C), however can be stored for up to one month at normal refrigerated conditions. The Pfizer vaccine is being manufactured in the United States, Belgium and Germany.

From late 2023, only Pfizer Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccines are available in Australia.

 

Any vaccine approved for use in Australia is first rigorously assessed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. It tests vaccines for safety, quality and efficacy before they can be used in Australia. Millions of people in countries around the world, including the United States and United Kingdom, have now been vaccinated with the Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax vaccines. More information can be accessed here or watch this video below explaining the approval process.

 

All COVID-19 vaccines free of charge to everyone in Australia. There is no need to have a Medicare card.

 

If you have any concerns about whether the COVID-19 vaccine is suitable for your circumstances, you should speak to your Pharmacist Immuniser or GP first.

 

Early trials of COVID-19 vaccines have reported mild side effects such as pain at the injection site, fever, headache or muscle aches. All these side effects were temporary. The COVID-19 vaccines have not been created with live viruses, which means it is impossible to be infected with either vaccine as a result of vaccination. If you have any concerns about whether the vaccine is suitable for your particular medical circumstances, you should speak to your Pharmacist Immuniser or GP first.

 

If you have any concerns about whether the vaccine is suitable for your particular medical circumstances, you should speak to your Pharmacist first. Prior to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine you will be provided with information about the COVID-19 vaccination and will have the opportunity to ask the Pharmacist Immuniser any questions.

 

Any vaccine can have people who will not be protected from disease after having the vaccination, the vaccines are not 100% effective in preventing you from catching COVID-19. They create antibodies which can fight the COVID-19 infection to stop you becoming severely unwell. COVID-19 vaccines are designed to reduce the risk of severe illness that requires hospitalisation; however, even if you are up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccine doses, if you catch COVID-19 you may still have mild to moderate illness.

Neither the COVID-19 vaccines nor any current influenza vaccines have not been created with live viruses, which means it is impossible to be infected with either as a result of vaccination.

Yes, all Australians are encouraged to have their seasonal influenza vaccine in addition to the COVID-19 vaccine. It is advised to still get your flu vaccine, and you can receive your flu vaccine and a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time.

No. Bivalent COVID-19 vaccines provided protection against 2 strains: the original (ancestral) strain that was prevalent at the beginning of the pandemic, and either the Omicron BA.1 or BA.4/5 strains. The original (ancestral) strain is no longer prevalent and the World Health Organization has recommended that the latest vaccines no longer include this strain.

 

Participating stores