How to Get a COVID Booster in Catalunya

by

Many people have contacted Barcelona Metropolitan with questions about how to get their third “booster” shot. As of the publication date of this article, here is a quick guide to help you get your third jab.

Health authorities around the world are strongly advising everyone to get the third vaccination as the explosion of cases threatens to overwhelm hospital staff—and Catalunya is no exception. Local public health officials said last week that the high level of immunization in the area is what has prevented a complete collapse of the health system.

How Is the Vaccine Administered, Who Is Eligible?

No vaccinations are available through private health-care providers; the COVID vaccine is being administered solely by Spain’s national health care system, and it is available to all residents of Spain. According to CanalSalut, “All the vaccines are free of charge for all residents of Catalunya. This includes citizens without a residence permit, persons who are undocumented or those who are not in possession of the individual healthcare card.”

Who Can Get the Third Dose of the Vaccine?

As of December 22, people in Catalunya aged 50 and over, and those vaccinated with AstraZeneca, may now request an appointment for their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Keep in mind that your previous vaccination date determines your eligibility. For those who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, six months must have passed before you are able to get the third dose, while it’s just three months for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Catalunya’s Public Health Commission has given its approval to the booster dose for people over 40. Vaccination for this age group will begin in the coming days, according to Secretary of Public Health Carmen Cabezas.

Catalunya began administering a third dose of the vaccine to people over the age of 70 in October, coinciding with the start of the campaign for flu vaccinations. Third doses started with people living in residences and segments considered to be at high risk for coronavirus, such as people with transplants, Down Syndrome as well as cancer patients and people who are immunocompromised.

How Will I Be Notified of the Ability to Get Vaccinated against COVID?

Though it was possible to get your vaccination without an appointment at a walk-in clinic a few weeks ago, now all vaccination centers in Catalunya require an appointment.

You should receive an SMS message or phone call from CatSalut notifying you of your eligibility to get your third vaccination. However, make sure that your contact details are up to date at La Meva Salut, or the notification from CatSalut won’t reach you.

It’s important to be registered in La Meva Salut because you can also use it to download your COVID-19 vaccine report and EU digital COVID certificate. If you have not yet registered, you can do so at lamevasalut.gencat.cat. In order to register on La Meva Salut, you do need to be registered in the system and have a targeta sanitària individual (health card). All residents of Spain, no matter their immigration status, are eligible for health care coverage under the national system.

If you are in an age group that has begun vaccinations but have not received a notification from CatSalut, you can request an appointment to be vaccinated online without waiting for CatSalut to contact you. According to many people who have gone through the process, you may need to try many times. (I tried over 20 times before I was able to schedule my appointment).

What Is Needed to Make an Appointment?

To request an appointment with CatSalut, all you need is to have handy your:

  • Mobile phone
  • E-mail address
  • CatSalut health card 
  • CIP number  

You can also use your DNI or passport if you do not have a health card—though many people without CatSalut cards have reported experiencing problems making an appointment.

What Is the CIP?

The CIP is the personal identification code that you will find on your individual health card. If you don’t yet have a health card from the public system, you can apply online here.

Helpful Resources