While COVID-19 is unpleasant for many, it can be very dangerous and even life threatening for some people, particularly those with certain health conditions, older people and pregnant women.
Vaccines are our best protection against COVID-19 and we advise eligible people to always keep up to date with their vaccinations so they are fully protected. Even if you do get COVID-19 the symptoms are likely to be much reduced if you have been vaccinated at least two weeks beforehand.
Visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to find answers to questions that many people have asked about COVID-19 vaccinations or look at the NHS COVID-19 website here.
COVID-19 FAQs
If you are eligible, you will be invited to get a COVID-19 vaccination or booster in April 2024 when the spring programme starts.
A spring campaign for those most at risk of serious illness from COVID-19 will run from 15 April to 30 June 2024, starting with people in care homes or those who are house-bound.
Other eligible groups will include:
- · Adults aged 75 years and over
- · Residents in a care home for older adults
- · Those aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined in tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book)
COVID-19 vaccines will be given by GPs, community pharmacists and some NHS walk-in centres.
If you are eligible, you will be contacted by your GP or health worker to make an appointment for a vaccination when it's your turn.
If you are immunosuppressed and need a vaccination before the next campaign starts, please read What if I am immunosuppressed? below.
All COVID-19 vaccines are thoroughly tested to make sure they will not harm you or your child.
It often takes many years for a vaccine to make it through the trials and tests it needs to pass for approval.
Once a vaccine is being used in the UK it's also monitored for any rare side effects by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It is also carefully monitored to make sure it still works.
Anyone can report a suspected side effect of vaccination to the MHRA through the Yellow Card Scheme.
COVID-19 vaccines have a good safety record and are an effective way to protect yourself from the COVID-19 viruses.
- · While COVID-19 can be unpleasant, for some it can be very dangerous and even life threatening, particularly people with certain health conditions, older people and pregnant women. For them, it can increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia or can make existing conditions worse. Every winter, thousands die from flu and people can still get very ill or die from COVID-19.
- · Having your COVID-19 vaccination will reduce your risk of serious illness and help you recover more quickly if you catch the viruses. Getting the vaccines while pregnant helps to protect you and your baby from complications if you catch these viruses. The vaccines have kept tens of thousands of people out of hospital and helped to save countless lives and they give you better protection than any immunity gained from previous infections. They also help protect your family and other people in your community, by helping to stop diseases spreading.
- · COVID-19 spreads more easily as we spend more time indoors. The new BA.2.86 COVID-19 variant presents a greater risk now, which is why we are encouraging all eligible people to get their vaccines as soon as they can.
- · The current COVID-19 vaccination offer lasts from 22 April to 30 June 2024 for people in three eligible groups:
- o Adults aged 75 years and over
- o Residents in a care home for older adults
- o Those aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined in tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book)
- · GP practices and pharmacies get the flu vaccine in batches to make sure that it is widely available. If you are eligible and cannot get an appointment, ask if you can book an appointment for when more vaccines are available.
- · From 22 July 2024 you can get a COVID-19 vaccination if you fall into one of these eligible groups:
- o Adults aged 75 years and over
- o Residents in a care home for older adults
- o Those aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined in tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book)
NHS walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic finder, or NHS Find a Pharmacy
You do not need to be registered with a GP.
If you have been recently diagnosed as immunosuppressed then you may be eligible for a COVID-19 at any time. Contact your GP or healthcare specialist to arrange a vaccination.
Examples of immunosuppression conditions include:
- Cancers such as lymphoma or leukaemia
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Crohn's disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Organ transplants
- Severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
If you are house bound, please contact your GP in the first instance to inform them of your situation if this is not already recorded and to arrange your COVID-19 vaccination.
The issue of pork ingredients in some vaccines has raised concerns among some groups, including Muslim, Jewish, vegetarian and vegan communities. You can read the guidance here to provide information about vaccines that contain this product and the alternatives that may be available.
You can find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site to get a vaccine without an appointment.
NHS walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic finder, or NHS Find a Pharmacy
You do not need to be registered with a GP.
- · If you are eligible for the flu or COVID-19 vaccine based on the JCVI* recommendations, it is important to top up your protection, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or COVID-19 before, as immunity fades over time and flu and COVID-19 viruses change each year.
- * JCVI – Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
- · The vaccines give you additional protection to that gained from previous infections. If you have had recent COVID-19 you will still get extra protection from the vaccine.
- · The COVID-19 vaccine is given to top up the protection in those at higher risk from severe COVID-19 illness to help prevent people being hospitalised or dying from COVID-19
- · During the pandemic, COVID-19 disproportionately affected those in older age groups, residents in care homes for older adults, and those with certain underlying health conditions, particularly those who are severely immunosuppressed which is why we vaccinate them regularly to ‘top up’ their protection.
The COVID-19 vaccine programme aims to reduce the number of people that get seriously ill and reduce the spread of the viruses. The government decide which groups will be eligible for free vaccines on the NHS. Their decision is based on the independent advice of clinical experts in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) who review the latest clinical evidence and data.
The NHS is offering different COVID-19 vaccines in line with the advice of scientists on JCVI. All COVID-19 vaccines have been tested in line with rigorous standards and found to give good protection against the virus.
- · COVID-19 vaccines have a good safety record, and their side effects are generally mild and do not last for more than a few days. Your safety will always come first and there are rigorous safety standards that have to be met through the approval process.
- · As with any medicine, vaccines are highly regulated products. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the official UK regulator are globally recognised for requiring the highest standards of safety, quality and effectiveness for medicines and vaccines.
- · There are checks at every stage in the development and manufacturing process. Each of the vaccines are tested on tens of thousands of people across the world. They are tested on both men and women, on people from different ethnic backgrounds, and of all age groups.
If you think you’ve already had COVID-19, once you’ve recovered you should still get the vaccines as they will still help protect you.
Almost everybody can have the vaccines, but you should not be vaccinated if you have ever had a serious allergy (e.g. anaphylaxis) to any of the COVID-19 vaccines, or any of their ingredients – you should discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist.
No, the JCVI advises that the booster vaccine should be offered no earlier than three months after completion of the primary vaccine course.
No, all COVID-19 vaccines authorised for use by the NHS are effective and provide a strong booster response. When you attend your appointment, the NHS will offer you a safe, effective vaccine.
- · There are several different COVID-19 vaccines in use in the UK. They have all met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.
- · Most people can have any of the COVID-19 vaccines and will be offered a vaccine that gives protection from more than one type of COVID-19. You cannot choose which vaccine you have.
- · Some people are only offered certain vaccines, for example:
- o Adults aged 75 years and over
- o Residents in a care home for older adults
- o Those aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined in tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book)
The COVID-19 Pass system for travel closed on 4th December 2023: www.
- · A record of a COVID-19 vaccination is not now routinely being applied to NHS app records.
- · If this changes in future COVID-19 programmes, then widespread information will be provided.
- · There are no longer any UK domestic requirements to demonstrate vaccination status, and no countries require proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of entry.
- · If you still want to have proof of your vaccination, please refer to your GP who will have a record of this in your patient record, even though you may have had the vaccination at a walk-in centre or pharmacy. It may take 2-3 weeks for the details to be transferred to your GP patient record, and some GPs may charge for a letter of proof.
You can also search for individual country travel requirements on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice website here (non-NHS): Foreign travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)