COVID-19

You are no longer advised to test routinely for COVID-19, so the provision of free tests has stopped. Limited testing continues only for vulnerable individuals and in high-risk settings.

You could need to test if you:

• have a health condition which means you are eligible for COVID-19 treatments
• work in healthcare or adult social care, depending on your role and whether you have symptoms
• are going into hospital for certain types of treatment

Find out who can get a free NHS test External link

COVID-19 vaccinations are available from Thursday 3 October to Wednesday 11 December 2024.

After this date you will have to wait for the next round of vaccinations in spring 2025, so book an appointment now if you are eligible.

Anyone can arrange a vaccination using the NHS booking service. You can choose a time slot and location to suit you and you may be offered a flu vaccinaton at the same time if you are elegible.

If you are unable to book online, you should phone 119 (free of charge). Lines are open from 7am to 11pm every day.  

You do not need to be registered with a GP or provide documentation to get a vaccine. 

You are eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccination if you are:

• An adult aged 65 years and over
• A resident in a care home for older adults
• Aged 6 months and over who is immunosuppressed, for example you might have chronic asthma, heart disease, diabetes or some liver and kidney conditions. 
• A pregnant woman in the first, second or third trimester

You can check the full eligibility definitions in tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book).

Older adults living in a residential care home will start to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations from Monday 15 April 2024.

You may be contacted by your GP if you are eligible to make an appointment for a vaccination when it's your turn.

If you are immunosuppressed read the information in the "What if I am immunosuppressed?" section below.

IMPORTANT: Housebound patients

If you, a friend or family member, is registered as housebound contact your GP to confirm that you will be given your COVID-19 vaccination at home. 

This will only happen IF you are already registered as 'housebound' with your GP - so check with them first. 

For more information check the section below: "What if I am housebound and cannot get out for a COVID-19 vaccination?"

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.
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• COVID-19 spreads more easily as we spend more time indoors. New variants like the NEX or 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.​​​​

COVID-19 vaccinations will only be available from Thursday 3 October to Wednesday 11 December 2024. 

After that date you will have to wait until spring 2025, so we recommend booking your appointment as soon as possible.

You can book your COVID-19 appointment online, on the NHS app or telephone 119 free if you are eligible for the vaccination

This winter you are eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccination if you are:

• An adult aged 65 years and over
• A resident in a care home for older adults
• Aged 6 months and over who is immunosuppressed, for example you might have chronic asthma, heart disease, diabetes or some liver and kidney conditions. 
• A pregnant women, whether in your first, second or third trimester.

GP practices and pharmacies get the flu vaccine in batches to make sure that it is widely available and in date.

If you are eligible and cannot get an appointment, ask if you can book an appointment for when more vaccines are available.​​​​​​

IMPORTANT: Housebound patients

If you, a friend or family is registered as housebound contact your GP to confirm that you will be given your COVID-19 vaccination at home.  This will only happen IF you are already registered as 'housebound' with your GP - so check with them first

If you are immunosuppressed read the information in the "What if I am immunosuppressed?" section below.

You can make a booking for a COVID-19 vaccination right now up to 11 December 2024.

Appointments for vaccinations will run from Thursday 3 October to Wednesday 11 December 2024 

You can get a free COVID-19 vaccination at your GP surgery or at a participating pharmacy if you are in one of these eligible groups:

• An adult aged 65 years and over
• A resident in a care home for older adults
• Aged 6 months and over who is immunosuppressed, for example you might have chronic asthma, heart disease, diabetes or some liver and kidney conditions. 
• A pregnant woman, whether in your first, second or third trimester

You can find more information about where you can get a COVID-19 vaccination here: NHS walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic finder, or NHS Find a Pharmacy

You do not need to be registered with a GP practice.

If you, or a family member, is registered as housebound at your GP practice then contact them first to confirm that you will be given a COVID-19 vaccination at home.

Please DO NOT ring our Patient Advice & Liaison Service team (PALS) as they will not be able to help you if you are not registered as ‘housebound’ with your GP.  Please contact your GP practice first, or ask an authorised friend or family member to do so.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

• To be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination in your home you must be registered as ‘housebound’ with your GP practice first.  Contact your GP practice to check this if you are unsure.

• In this instance “housebound” refers to anyone who is unable to leave their home due to physical or psychological illness. This includes those who require significant assistance to leave their home because of conditions such as frailty, disability, mental ill health, or being near the end of life.

• The person who comes to give you your COVID-19 vaccination at home may do so without making an appointment first.  This is because you are registered as housebound and expected to be at home.  If however you miss the vaccination person, e.g. due to a hospital visit, then contact your GP to arrange another visit.

• Your GP practice may arrange alternative healthcare services to provide your COVID-19 vaccination at home and they should inform you of who this is, for example a named pharmacy.  Contact your GP practice to check this if you are unsure.

• You are unlikely to be eligible as housebound if you regularly leave home, even with family, for example to go to a lunch club for shopping.  Therefore you will not be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination at home and you can book your appointment on the NHS App, by calling 119 or at a participating pharmacy.

• Your GP Practice will not give anyone else in your home with a COVID-19 vaccination when they come to give you yours, unless they are also registered as housebound.  If they are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination but not housebound they can make a booking on the NHS App or by calling 119.

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

It is safe to be vaccinated against Covid-19 if you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breastfeeding.

1 in 5 of the most critically ill patients hospitalised were pregnant people, as they are at higher risk of serious illness.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency provides further evidence that the vaccines are safe in pregnancy.

More information about pregnancy and vaccinations: Pregnancy and coronavirus (COVID-19)

There are no immigration checks and you do not need an NHS number or GP registration to get treated or vaccinated for Covid-19.

You do not need an NHS number or GP registration to receive the Covid-19 vaccination and you are still entitled to a free vaccination without them. You can go to a walk-in vaccination centre or contact a GP practice and ask to book your Covid-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient.

You will never be forced to have the Covid-19 vaccine and it does not affect your asylum or refugee status.

You can find out more on the government's Covid-19: Migrant’s health guide

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 Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (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.

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• 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 vaccination as this is still be best way to protect you, your family, friends and the NHS from future COVID-19 infection.

Plus you will be helping others who may have a medical condition and be immunosuppressed. 

For more information about immunosupression and COVID-19 go up to the section "What if I am immunosupressed?" on this page.

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 participating pharmacist.

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The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) advises that the COVID-19 booster vaccine should be offered no earlier than three months after completion of your primary vaccine course.

If you have any questions, then contact your GP practice or visit the NHS COVID-19 vaccination webpage which is updated at the start of every COVID-19 campaign

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 type you have.

• Some people are only offered certain vaccines, for example:
  • 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)​​​​​

The COVID-19 Pass system for travel closed on 4th December 2023: www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-Covid-pass

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 in the media and through the NHS
• 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 about vaccinations on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice website here (non-NHS): Foreign travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)​​​​