Covid-19 Vaccinations Frequently Asked Questions

When it is the right time people will receive an invitation to come forward. For most people this will be a letter or phone call, either from their GP or the national NHS booking system. This letter will include all the information a person will need to book appointments. Some services are currently also phoning and texting patients to invite them in.  

We know lots of people are eager to get protected but we would ask people not to contact the NHS to get an appointment until they are contacted.  The NHS is working hard to make sure those at greatest risk are offered the vaccine first.  

Some people who have been vaccinated by their GP may still get an invitation to a mass vaccination centre or a community pharmacy. This letter can be disregarded if you have already had your vaccine from your GP.  

You can wait for an invitation from your GP if you would prefer to be vaccinated at a local designated hub rather than at a mass vaccination centre. 

Getting our most vulnerable people vaccinated as quickly as we could, while transmission rates were high, has undoubtedly save lives. Everyone in the first two phases of the vaccination programme including: care home residents, frontline health and care staff, clinically extremely vulnerable people, those with underlying health conditions and people over the age of 16 have now been offered a vaccination. 

People aged 18 and over 

You can get your 1st and 2nd dose of a COVID-19 vaccine if you’re aged 18 or over (or will turn 18 within 3 months). 

You can book appointments at a larger vaccination centre or pharmacy now or wait to be invited to go to a local NHS service. 

Book your COVID-19 vaccination appointments 

Young people aged 16 and 17

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that all healthy 16 to 17 year olds should be offered a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least 12 weeks after the first vaccine dose, or 12 weeks following a positive COVID-19 test result – whichever is later.

Clinical guidance has also been updated to recommend that young people aged 12-17 who are not in a high-risk group should wait 12 weeks after a positive COVID-19 infection before getting their first vaccine dose.

You can book your appointment at a larger vaccination centre or pharmacy now or wait to be invited to go to a local NHS service.

Second dose information for 16 to 17 years

Book your COVID-19 vaccination appointment 

Children aged 12 to 15 

All children aged 12 to 15 will be offered a 1st dose of a COVID-19 vaccine (including children who turn 12 on the date of vaccination). 

Most children can: 

• get their vaccine at school 
• book their vaccination appointment online for an appointment at a vaccination centre or pharmacy 
• check if there is a walk-in vaccination site near them to get vaccinated without needing an appointment 

Not all walk-in vaccination sites can vaccinate children aged 12 to 15. More sites will become available over time. 

Find out more about the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 15 

Young people and children at high risk from COVID-19 

Some young people and children aged 12 to 17 are being offered 2 doses of the vaccine if either: 

• they live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis) 
• they have a condition that means they’re at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 

Conditions that mean they may be at high risk and eligible for 2 doses are: 

• a severe problem with the brain or nerves, such as cerebral palsy 
• Down’s syndrome 
• severe or multiple learning disabilities (or they’re on the learning disability register) 
• a condition that means they’re more likely to get infections (such as some genetic conditions or types of cancer) 

Those who are eligible for 2 doses of the vaccine will be contacted by a local NHS service such as a GP surgery to arrange their appointments. 

Other ways to get 2 doses if you are aged 16 or 17 

More information 

Find out more about COVID-19 vaccination for children and young people on GOV.UK 

Children aged 5 to 11

The Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended that all 5 to 11-year-olds who are at high risk from COVID-19 due to a health condition should have the vaccine. It is also recommended for children of this age who live with someone who is immunosuppressed. This is to reduce the risk of them passing on the infection to their family members.

Which conditions mean my child is at higher risk from COVID-19?

Children at serious risk from the complications of COVID-19 infection include those with:

• severe neurodisabilities
• a weakened immune system (immunosuppression)
• profound and multiple or severe learning disabilities
• being on the learning disability register
• those with Down’s syndrome
• long term serious conditions affecting their body, including chronic heart or respiratory disease or conditions affecting the kidneys, liver, or digestive system.

How do I get an appointment for my child?

If your child is eligible for the vaccine, your child’s GP or hospital consultant will contact you if they need to have the vaccine and tell you how to book an appointment. They will be in touch over the coming weeks so please wait to hear and do not contact your GP practice.

For children who live with someone who is immunosuppressed, the person who is immunosuppressed will be written to with details of how to make an appointment for them. 

Where will children be vaccinated?

Most children will be offered an appointment at a centre run by local GPs or at the hospital where they are treated.Some appointments may also be offered in special schools.

Extra time will be allowed for child appointments and staff will be specially trained in vaccinating this age group. If your child needs any reasonable adjustments at their appointment to enable them to have their vaccination, please let the service know when you book your appointment so this can be put in place.

Who will give my child their vaccination?

The vaccines will be given by staff who have been specially trained in communicating with and vaccinating children of these ages, including children with special educational needs and disabilities.

What vaccine will they have?

Children will be given two child-sized doses of the Pfizer vaccine, usually 8 weeks apart.  Each vaccine is a third of the dose that is given to older children and adults.

Can the Covid vaccine be given as a nasal spray like the flu vaccine?

No, the COVID-19 vaccine is currently only available as an injection.

Does my child still need to be vaccinated if they have had COVID-19? Yes, however they will need to wait 4 weeks from when they tested positive before they can have their first or second vaccine

For more information please read:

• COVID-19 vaccination guide for parents of children 5 to 11 years of age https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1046821/COVID-19-guide-for-parents-of-children-at-risk-aged-5-11_years.pdf

• What to expect after your child’s COVID-19 vaccination leaflet https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1045901/COVID-19-what-to-expect-5-11years.pdf

People with a weakened immune system 

A 3rd dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is being offered to people aged 12 and over who had a weakened immune system when they had their first 2 doses. 

This includes people who had or have: 

• a blood cancer (such as leukaemia or lymphoma) 
• a weakened immune system due to a treatment (such as steroid medicine, biological therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy) 
• an organ or bone marrow transplant 
• a condition that means you have a very high risk of getting infections 
• a condition or treatment your specialist advises makes you eligible for a 3rd dose 

If you’re eligible for a 3rd dose, the NHS will let you know when and where to have the vaccine. 

Find out more about COVID-19 vaccination for people with a weakened immune system on GOV.UK 

Information: 

The 3rd vaccine dose for people with a weakened immune system is not a booster dose. 

If you are over 12 years old and have an underlying health condition such as cancer or a long-term chronic condition where your immunity is affected by medication, you may not have a full immune response to COVID-19 vaccination.

People who are immunosuppressed in this way may be offered a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to help reduce the risk of getting seriously ill. This is usually at least eight weeks after the second dose, but your GP or consultant may suggest an alternative interval because of ongoing treatment or because you are about to start treatment which will affect your immune system.

If you are identified as eligible, your consultant or GP will contact you to advise on the best time for your jab and recommend where best to have it. You may also have received a letter directly from NHS Digital advising that you could be eligible – you can use this to talk through options with your GP or consultant if you have not done so already.

To ensure you get the best protection, it is important to receive advice directly from your consultant or GP on the best clinical timing of your third dose. If you believe you are eligible for a third dose but have not yet been contacted, you should contact your GP or consultant or discuss/arrange an appointment with your GP or consultant about whether you are eligible for a third dose.

If you have received a letter directly from your hospital or GP referring you for a third jab, you can get your jab at the vaccination site the doctor recommends or you can take your letter to any walk-in vaccination centre.

Patients can find a walk-in COVID vaccine centre by searching – Find a walk-in coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site (www.nhs.uk).

Find out more about COVID-19 vaccination for people with a weakened immune system on GOV.UK

What is a 3rd dose of the primary course?

The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI)  issued guidance on the 3rd September recommending a 3rd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the primary course of vaccination. This is being offered as a routine part of vaccination to people who are severely immunosuppressed (as defined within the JCVI guidance) due to treatment for conditions such as cancer or for those with long-term chronic conditions where their immunity is affected by medication.

Why is it recommended?

People who have a severely weakened immune system as a result of treatment, may not have the same immune response to the vaccine, and therefore, the JCVI recommends that a 3rd dose will help reduce the risk of getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19, and from spreading COVID-19 (Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines www.nhs.uk)

Who is eligible for it?

JCVI guidance recommends that a 3rd dose is offered to individuals aged 12 years and over with severe immunosuppression, including those who are being treated for conditions such as cancer or for those with long-term chronic conditions where their immunity is significantly affected by regular medication. Severe immunosuppression is defined within the advice section of the JCVI guidance.

Guidance for household contacts of those who are immunosuppressed has not changed. They are recommended to be vaccinated with their first and second doses, in line with current JCVI guidance.  Details are available here.

Is there a list of conditions and treatments available which identifies people who are considered severely immunosuppressed?

The list has been published by the JCVI and is available here.

How will patients know if they are eligible?

Consultants and GPs have been asked to identify patients eligible for a 3rd dose. Patients will be contacted by their consultant / hospital doctor or GP team who will discuss the timing of the 3rd dose, in light of the current or planned immunosuppressive therapies the patient is undergoing. 

If the hospital consultant works at a hospital hub, with available vaccine supply, they should invite eligible individuals to be vaccinated on site.  If the patient cannot be vaccinated at the hospital site, the consultant will write to the patient’s GP with clear advice on timing of a 3rd dose and identifying any interaction with their current treatment. Patients should then be invited to be vaccinated at a PCN-led vaccination site.

GP teams should also identify patients on their list and liaise with hospital doctors to invite eligible individuals via their consultant. Patients will be given a clinical authorisation letter which they will need to take with them to receive their vaccination.

Can patients be vaccinated at a walk-in vaccination site?

A clinical authorisation letter will be given to eligible patients and this will act as authorisation to a COVID vaccination site that the patient requires a 3rd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals can go to a centre which their clinician has highlighted or, if not specified, to any COVID vaccine centre offering walk-in vaccinations. Patients can find a walk-in COVID vaccine centre here: Search – Find a walk-in coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site (www.nhs.uk). They do not need to call their GP surgery or contact the hospital about this.

Can patients self-identify as severely immunosuppressed?

If individuals think they are eligible for a 3rd dose and have not been contacted as yet, they are advised to speak to their GP or Consultant.

Is the 3rd dose the same as the booster vaccine?

No.  The 3rd dose is not the booster vaccine.  It is recommended that the 3rd dose should be given at least 8 weeks after the 2nd dose and is part of the primary course of immunisation.  A booster jab is also expected be offered 6 months after the 3rd dose but we are currently awaiting JCVI guidance on this.

Which vaccine will be offered as a 3rd dose?

JCVI have advised a preference for mRNA vaccines (full dose Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) for the third dose, with the option of the AstraZeneca Vaxzevria vaccine for individuals who have received this vaccine previously where this would facilitate delivery. For those aged 12 to 17, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is preferred.

When will a 3rd dose be offered? What interval will there be between 2nd and 3rd dose?

The JCVI recommends that the 3rd dose should be offered at least 8 weeks after the 2nd dose.

Research shows that, as with the interval between the 1st and 2nd dose, 8 weeks has been observed as providing the individual with the most benefits in terms of an immune response. If, however, the patient’s GP or Consultant believes that an alternative interval should be offered, because of ongoing treatment or starting treatment which will suppress the individual’s immune system, then this timing may be altered. Intervals will be considered, in light of the individual’s specific health circumstances and an assessment made by their clinician.

Where possible, JCVI recommends that the 3rd primary dose should be delayed until two weeks after the period of immunosuppression, in addition to the time period for clearance of the therapeutic agent.

Will a booster vaccine also be given?

It is expected that, in line with interim JCVI guidance, individuals will be eligible for a booster vaccine, as part of the routine booster programme, from around 6 months after their 3rd dose. We are currently awaiting final advice from the JCVI.

If a severely immunosuppressed individual has had a good immune response to the first two doses, will they still be offered a third dose?

Some people who are immunosuppressed may not generate a good immune response regardless of the number of vaccine doses administrated. However, data is not currently available to reliably identify who might, or might not, benefit from a third primary dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The JCVI guidance highlights published studies describing the effect of a third dose of mRNA vaccine in persons who are immunosuppressed reporting increased immune responses in varying proportions.

JCVI guidance recommends that a 3rd dose will be offered to individuals aged 12 years and over with severe immunosuppression (as defined within the JCVI guidance).

What are the side-effects of a third dose?

Find out more about COVID-19 vaccines side effects and safety.

When can people expect to be invited for, and to receive, these 3rd doses?

Hospital doctors and GP teams are already identifying and consulting with severely immunosuppressed patients.  The precise timing of an individual’s 3rd dose vaccination will be determined following consultation with their consultant / GP in line with JCVI advice.

Are people in this group also eligible for the flu vaccine?

Some patients who are immunosuppressed are also eligible for the flu vaccine and we would strongly encourage them to get vaccinated to protect themselves against flu, which can have very serious complications for some immunosuppressed patients. Local GP teams and pharmacy services are offering flu vaccines in line with local available supply.

Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals are also eligible for the national influenza vaccination programme, specifically individuals who expect to share living accommodation on most days over the winter and, therefore, for whom continuing close contact is unavoidable.

Will the 3rd dose be given alongside the flu vaccine?

Flu vaccine is not currently included in this advice. Advice on co-administration within this context will be issued in due course.

Reference documents

On 1 September 2021 the JCVI issued advice on third dose COVID-19 vaccinations as part of primary course vaccination schedule for those severely immunosuppressed.

JCVI issues advice on third dose vaccination for severely immunosuppressed – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Third primary COVID-19 vaccine dose for people who are immunosuppressed: JCVI advice – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The JCVI stated that the specialist involved should advise on whether the patient fulfils the eligibility criteria and on the timing of any third primary dose.

On 2 September 2021 NHSE/I wrote to all GP practices, NHS trust chief executives, CCGs and ICS/STP leads, among others, setting out actions for all systems to take to vaccinate immunosuppressed group identified by JCVI as requiring a third primary course dose.

C1399-Updated-JCVI-guidance-for-vaccinating-immunosuppressed-individuals-with-third-primary-dose.pdf (england.nhs.uk)

On 30 September 2021 NHSE/I outlined the assurance process for GPs and Trusts.

NHS England and NHS Improvement continue to emphasise the roles of clinicians and are working alongside patient charities and clinician networks to ensure eligible patients are identified and advised on the criteria of the third primary dose in line with JCVI guidance. Information for patients is available on the NHS website.

The NHS has opened a number of large-scale vaccination centres and community pharmacies across the region. Invitations to book an appointment are being sent to people in the relevant priority groups who have not yet been vaccinated and live up to 45 minutes’ drive from a centre.     

You are free to choose to accept this invitation, by following the instructions on the letter, or wait to be contacted by your local GP services for an invitation to a locally designated site. 

The NHS is offering vaccinations to those at greatest risk from Covid-19 first, in line with recommendations from the Joint Committee for Vaccinations & Immunisations (JCVI). 

As more vaccine becomes available, appointments will be offered to a wider group of people.  

No. Vaccinations will only be available through the NHS for the moment. Anyone who claims to be able to provide you with a vaccine for a fee is likely to be committing a crime and should be reported to the Police 101 service and/or Local Trading Standards. 

The vaccine is only available on the NHS for free to people in priority groups, and the NHS will contact you when it is your turn. Anyone offering a paid-for vaccine is committing a crime. 

The NHS will never ask you to press a button on your keypad or send a text to confirm you want the vaccine, and never ask for payment or for your bank details. 

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft you should report this directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Where the victim is vulnerable, and particularly if you are worried that someone has or might come to your house, report it to the Police online or by calling 101. 

The British Islamic Medical Association have issued specific advice urging Muslims observing Ramadan not to delay getting the vaccine, drawing on analysis from Islamic scholars which says that injections for non-nutritional purposes do not invalidate the fast.

The Pfizer/BioNTech, Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 and the COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna vaccines are now available. All vaccines have been shown to be safe and offer high levels of protection and have been given regulatory approval by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).  

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-for-covid-19

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine-moderna

In the UK several different types of COVID-19 vaccines will be used during 2021. The vaccines will only be approved on the basis of large studies of safety and effectiveness. 

Over 100 million doses of the vaccine have been given on the UK and the vaccine has prevented many cases and thousands of deaths from COVID-19.  

There have been reports of an extremely rare condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after vaccination with AstraZeneca (AZ). This is being carefully reviewed but the risk factors for this condition are not yet clear. Because of the high risk of complications and death from COVID-19, the MHRA, the World Health Organisation and the European Medicines Agency have concluded that the balance is very much in favour of vaccination. 

Any vaccines that the NHS provides will have been approved because they pass the MHRA’s tests on safety and efficacy. People should be assured that whatever Covid-19 vaccine they get will be effective.  

A specific vaccine will only be selected where there is a clinical reason to do so related to severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) and based upon age recommendations made by the JCVI as below. 

As the programme progresses, the JCVI will advise on the appropriate vaccine for each age group. The vaccine offered will depend on your age. Currently the JCVI has advised it is preferable for healthy people under 30 to have a vaccine other than AstraZeneca (AZ). The time when it will be offered will be based on the availability of those vaccines. Anybody who was previously eligible for vaccination remains so and should come forward to start or complete their recommended course. 

• If you are a healthy person over 40 years of age  

The MHRA and the JCVI advises that all adults in this age group (including health and social care workers) should still receive any of the available COVID-19 vaccines. The benefits of vaccination in protecting you against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition. You should also complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose. 

If you choose to have another COVID-19 vaccine you may have to wait to be protected. You may wish to go ahead with the AZ vaccination after you have considered all the risks and benefits for you. 

• If you are a healthy younger person aged 12 to 39 

The MHRA and the JCVI continue to monitor the benefits and safety of the AZ vaccine in younger people. You should carefully consider the risk to both you and your family and friends of COVID-19 before making a decision.  

JCVI are advising a preference for a vaccine other than AstraZeneca to be offered to healthy people under 40 years of age, including health and social care workers, unpaid carers and household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals. 

Is the vaccine safe?    

Yes. The NHS would not offer any Covid-19 vaccinations to the public until independent experts have signed off that it was safe to do so.    

The vaccines approved for use in the UK have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness set out by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). 

Any coronavirus vaccine that is approved must go through all the clinical trials and safety checks all other licensed medicines go through. The MHRA follows international standards of safety. 

Millions of people have been given a Covid-19 vaccine and reports of serious side effects, such as allergic reactions, have been very rare. No long-term complications have been reported. 

A very small number of individuals have experienced a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) when vaccinated with Covid-19 vaccine. Following close surveillance of the vaccine roll-out, the MHRA has advised that individuals with a history of allergic reactions to food, an identified drug or vaccine, or an insect sting can receive any Covid-19 vaccine, as long as they are not known to be allergic to any ingredients of the vaccine. 

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has issued advice to the government on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, following reports of extremely rare blood clots in a very small number of people 

This condition is known to occur naturally although the underlying risk factors have not yet been fully established. A detailed review of suspected cases of this condition following COVID vaccination is ongoing by the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), supported by PHE and other professional groups.  

This will help us to understand the risk factors for developing this condition. The current data suggests that the overall incidence is around 4 per million first doses of the AZ vaccine administered. Although cases have been reported in all ages and genders, there appears to be a trend for increasing incidence with decreasing age amongst adults, with the highest incidence reported in the younger adult age groups. 

The MHRA’s advice remains that the benefits of being vaccinated with the available vaccines continue to outweigh any risks and that the public should continue to get their vaccine when invited to do so. 

• For anyone over 40 who has not received their first Astra Zeneca vaccine dose, the advice is to get your vaccine as planned and keep your appointment if you have been given one.  
• Anyone under 40 – without an underlying health condition – who has not been vaccinated yet – will be offered an alternative vaccine via PCN sites. 
• People may make an informed choice to receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to receive earlier protection – this may be appropriate for people such as carers, health and social workers and other front line staff who are at an increased risk of exposure and/or to reduce the risk of passing the virus on to vulnerable individuals.  

• For anyone under 40 – with an underlying health condition – who has not yet had a first vaccine will be offered an alternative vaccine. 

A range of resources have been developed and updated to support this decision making and are available at www.gov.uk/government/collections/covid-19-vaccination-and-blood-clotting. 

Recently there have been reports of an extremely rare but serious condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccination. Some people with this condition have suffered life changing effects and some have died. These cases are being carefully reviewed but the risk factors for this condition are not yet clear. 

Although this condition remains extremely rare there is a higher risk in people after the first dose of the AZ vaccine. To date and overall, just over 10 people develop this condition for every million doses of AZ vaccine given. This is seen more often in younger people and tends to occur between 4 days and 4 weeks following vaccination. 

Similar conditions can also occur naturally, and clotting problems are a common complication of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. An increased risk has not yet been seen after other COVID-19 vaccines in the UK. 

The link attached gives further information to support your understanding to help you make an informed choice about vaccination. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-and-blood-clotting/covid-19-vaccination-and-blood-clotting

There is currently no evidence that the new strains will be resistant to the vaccines we have, so we are continuing to vaccinate people as normal. Scientists are looking now in detail at the characteristics of the virus in relation to the vaccines. Viruses, such as the winter flu virus, often branch into different strains but these small variations rarely render vaccines ineffective.  

There is no material of foetal or animal origin in either vaccine currently in use. All ingredients are published in the healthcare information on the MHRA’s website. 

For the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-pfizer-biontechvaccine-for-covid-19  

For the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccineastrazeneca  

Yes – The MHRA have advised that getting vaccinated is just as important for those who have already had Covid-19. It is advised that if you have had Covid you need to wait four weeks before you can be vaccinated. 

No, the COVID-19 vaccine will not protect you against the flu. 

People with history of a severe allergy to the ingredients of the vaccines should not be vaccinated.  

If you have a history of anaphylaxis (severe allergy) with an unknown cause, you should discuss this when attending your vaccination.

The MHRA has updated its guidance to say that pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding can have the vaccine, with no known risk from the vaccine ingredients and no risk of infection to mum or unborn baby from the vaccine. Pregnant women can discuss it with a clinician to ensure that the benefits outweigh any potential risks should they wish. Similarly, advice for women planning a pregnancy has also been updated and there is no need for women to delay pregnancy after having the vaccination.  

Although clinical trials on the use of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy are not advanced, the available data does not indicate any harm to pregnancy. JCVI has therefore advised that women who are pregnant should be offered vaccination at the same time as non-pregnant women, based on their age and clinical risk group. 

Pregnant women in eligible groups Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are the preferred vaccines for eligible pregnant women of any age, because of more extensive experience of their use in pregnancy. Pregnant women who commenced vaccination with AstraZeneca, however, are advised to complete with the same vaccine  

If a woman finds out she is pregnant after she has started a course of vaccine, she may complete vaccination during pregnancy using the same vaccine product (unless contraindicated). 

People currently unwell and experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should not receive the vaccine until they have recovered. The guidance says this should be at least four weeks after the start of symptoms or from the date of a positive Covid-19 test.

If this is your first dose, you should have a record card with your next appointment in 8 weeks’ time. It is important to have both doses of the same vaccine to give you the best protection. 

Keep your card safe. If this is your first dose, don’t forget to keep your next appointment. 

Very common side effects in the first day or two include:  

• having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your   

injection  

• feeling tired  
• headache, aches and chills 

You may also have flu like symptoms with episodes of shivering and shaking for a day or two. However, a high temperature could also indicate that you have COVID-19 or another infection. You can rest and take a normal dose of paracetamol (follow the advice in the packaging) to help make you feel better. 

An uncommon side effect is swollen glands in the armpit or neck on the same side as the arm where you had the vaccine. This can last for around 10 days, but if it lasts longer see your doctor. If you are due for a mammogram in the few weeks after the vaccine, then you should mention that when you attend. 

These symptoms normally last less than a week. If your symptoms seem to get worse or if you are concerned, call NHS 111. If you do seek advice from a doctor or nurse, make sure you tell them about your vaccination (show them the vaccination card) so that they can assess you properly. 

If you experience any of the following from around 4 days to four weeks after vaccination you should seek medical advice urgently.  

• a new, severe headache which is not helped by usual painkillers or is getting  

worse  

• an unusual headache which seems worse when lying down or bending over  

or may be accompanied by– blurred vision, nausea and vomiting– difficulty with your speech, – weakness, drowsiness or seizures  

• new, unexplained pinprick bruising or bleeding  

• shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal pain 

The COVID-19 vaccine that you have had has been shown to reduce the chance of you suffering from COVID-19 disease. Each vaccine has been tested in more than 20,000 people and many have also been used in many different countries. 

It may take few weeks for your body to build up some protection from the vaccine. Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective, so you should continue to take recommended precautions to avoid infection. Some people may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe. 

The vaccine cannot give you COVID-19 infection, and a full course will reduce your chance of becoming seriously ill. We don’t know how much it will reduce the risk of you passing on the virus. So, it is important to continue to follow current national guidance. 

To protect yourself and your family, friends and colleagues you MUST still:  

• practise social distancing  
• wear a face mask  
• wash your hands carefully and frequently  
• open windows to let fresh air in  
• follow the current guidance at www.gov.uk/coronavirus 

The UK Chief Medical Officers agreed a longer timeframe between first and second doses so that more people can get their first dose quickly, and because the evidence shows that one dose still offers a high level of protection. This decision will allow us to get the maximum benefit for the most people in the shortest possible time and will help save lives. 

The latest evidence suggests the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine provides protection for most people for up to three months. 

Getting both doses remains important so we would urge people to return for it at the right time which is now 8 weeks from the first dose. 

The science suggests that protection comes 10-14 days after the first dose. Trials show that at three weeks, the Pfizer vaccine is 89% effective and the Astra Zeneca vaccine is 73% effective.  

In the Astra Zeneca vaccine trial, second doses were given after varying time periods, with no suggestion that a delayed second dose gave inferior protection. There is no immunological reason why protection should wane between 3 and 12 weeks. Scientists are watching very carefully for any evidence that protection reduces between 3 and 12 weeks, and none has been found.

There is no reason to think that a second dose at 12 weeks will give inferior long term protection, and lots of science to suggest this may actually give better long term protection. 

For most vaccines, the best time for a booster dose is well beyond three weeks after the primary dose. In fact, a second dose too close to the first dose often means there is a lesser immune response in the long run.  

Following guidance from government and JCVI regarding the Delta variant first detected in India circulating in some parts of the country, the NHS is contacting people in all cohorts to receive their second dose earlier – at 8 weeks. If you already have an appointment over the coming weeks, whether for your first or second dose, this remains in place and it’s really important that you attend as planned.

There is no evidence that people in clinically vulnerable groups get any lesser protection from the first dose of vaccine than the general population. Giving people in these groups a second vaccine would delay the first dose for other vulnerable people. We do not have the option of making exceptions. 

People using the National Booking Service (booking into a vaccination centre or designated community pharmacy) are given their closest available appointment locations. While most people will book both appointments at the same location, there is an option for the second dose appointment to be booked at a different location. This applies to the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine only.  

People who had their first dose through a GP service should be invited for their second dose through the same GP service.  

People who had their first dose at a Hospital Hub site should be invited or be able to book their second dose at the same location.  

There are other circumstances in which it may be appropriate for a patient to receive their second dose in a different location to their first dose, for example, discharged outpatients, students, doctors in training on rotation to hospitals, people who have become housebound or moved into a care home since their first dose, or patients who have moved to a new house to somewhere a long way away from where they had their first dose.  

The NHS has said that the same vaccine used for the first dose must be used for the second, except in very exceptional circumstances. These exceptional circumstances are:   

If the first product received is unknown or if they received a brand that is not available in the UK. In these circumstances every effort should be made to determine which vaccine the individual received for their first dose and to complete the two-dose course with the same vaccine.  

If the patient initially had the Pfizer Vaccine and has since become housebound. In these circumstances as the COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca can be transported, a second dose with this vaccine can be given.  

People who experienced anaphylaxis reactions with the first dose of one brand of vaccine may be offered another vaccine if advised by an allergy specialist.  

If there is surplus vaccine, following second dose clinics, this will be used for first doses in the priority cohorts, for those patients who have been vaccinated prior to starting immunosuppression and who need a shorter interval between doses. 

The COVID-19 booster programme is the rollout of an additional vaccine dose to people who have previously received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to ensure continued protection for those most at risk from COVID-19. 

We want to provide the people that are most likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19 and those who care for them with the best possible protection for this winter. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has reviewed available data and provided advice that COVID-19 boosters are first offered to the most vulnerable in order to provide maximum protection during the Winter months.  

The flu vaccination programme is now running which protects people from serious complications from getting flu, so we would also encourage people that are eligible for a COVID-19 booster to also get their flu vaccination. More information on the flu vaccination is at www.nhs.uk/flujab  

Independent experts, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), have said that for the 2021 COVID-19 vaccination programme, the following people who received vaccination in Phase 1 of the COVID-19 vaccination programme should be offered a third dose COVID-19 booster vaccine. 

The following people should be offered a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the same order as the first part of the vaccination programme.  

• those living in residential care homes for older adults 
• all adults aged 18 years or over
• frontline health and social care workers 
• all those aged over 16 with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (as set out in the green book), and adult carers 

• adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals 

The JCVI advises that the booster vaccine dose should be offered no earlier than three months after completion of the first course of vaccination.  

JCVI have advised that individual who are severely immunosuppressed get an additional third dose of vaccine as part of their primary course of immunisation.  This offer is separate to the booster programme. More information is available here: JCVI issues advice on third dose vaccination for severely immunosuppressed – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

There are very few people in the eligible groups who should not have a booster.  If you have had a severe reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine you should discuss this with your doctor. 

The NHS will let eligible people know to have their booster vaccine when it is their turn.  

The JCVI advises that the booster vaccine dose should be offered no earlier than three months after having the second dose of the vaccination. Like your previous doses, the vaccine will be given in your upper arm.  

People will be offered the vaccine through a range of services. Primary care teams will vaccinate care home staff and residents. Health and social care staff will be directed to book their appointments through employers and members of the public will be invited to get their booster through a GP-led service and/or be contacted by the NHS to book through the national COVID-19 vaccination booking service to get their vaccination in a designated pharmacy, vaccination centre or GP-led service. 

As most younger adults will only have received their second COVID-19 vaccine dose in late summer or early autumn, the benefits of booster vaccination in this group will be considered at a later time when more information is available. In general, younger, healthy individuals may be expected to generate stronger vaccine-induced immune responses from primary course vaccination compared to older individuals.  

After reviewing data on booster responses from different combinations of COVID-19 vaccines, JCVI advises a preference for the Pfizer-BioNTech (vaccine to be offered as the booster dose irrespective of which type of vaccine was used in the primary schedule). There is good evidence that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is well tolerated as a booster dose and will provide a strong booster response.  

Alternatively, individuals may be offered a half dose of the Moderna vaccine, which should be well tolerated and is also likely to provide a strong booster response. A half dose of Moderna vaccine is advised over a full dose due to the levels of reactogenicity (side effects) seen following boosting with a full dose in clinical trials.  

Where mRNA vaccines cannot be offered e.g. due to contraindication, vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine may be considered for those who received AstraZeneca vaccine in the primary course. More detail is available in the green book.  

As with your previous dose the common side effects are the same for all COVID-19 vaccines used in the UK, and include:  

• having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection. This tends to be worst around 1 to 2 days after the vaccine  
• feeling tired  

• headache  
• general aches, or mild flu like symptoms 

You can rest and take paracetamol (follow the dose advice in the packaging) to help make you feel better. Although feeling feverish is not uncommon for 2 to 3 days, a high temperature is unusual and may indicate you have COVID-19 or another infection. 

Although a fever can occur within a day or 2 of vaccination, if you have any other COVID-19 symptoms or your fever lasts longer, stay at home and arrange to have a test. Symptoms following vaccination normally last less than a week. If your symptoms seem to get worse or if you are concerned, you can call NHS 111. 

If you had serious side effects after any previous dose you may be advised to avoid or delay further vaccination. You should discuss this with your doctor or specialist. 

Yes. Public Health England advises that there are no safety concerns and that COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time as other vaccines, including the nasal flu vaccine. It is standard practice for different vaccines to be given at the same time as each other.  This happens frequently with routine childhood vaccinations in the UK and other countries. 

The COVID-19 vaccination will reduce the chance of you suffering from COVID-19 disease. It may take a few days for your body to build up some protection from the booster.  

Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective – some people may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe. 

No, you need to finish the first course of your vaccination. 

The COVID-19 booster and the flu vaccine can be given on the same day and for people that are eligible for both, there may be opportunities to have both together. We would encourage you to get your vaccinations as soon as possible and get fully protected rather than waiting as it may not always be possible to get them together.

Everyone that is eligible that hasn’t already had their first or second COVID-19 vaccination will still be able to get vaccinated, even when the COVID-19 booster programme begins. This may be through a GP-led service or by booking through the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination national booking service. 

Everyone aged 12 and over can book their initial COVID-19 vaccination through the NHS booking service (call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week).  

If you are pregnant and in one of the groups that the JCVI has recommended for the boosters, you are eligible to receive a booster, no earlier than three months after completion of the first course of vaccination. The NHS will contact you when it is your turn. 

If you are pregnant and in one of the groups that the JCVI has recommended for the boosters, you are eligible to receive a booster, no earlier than three months after completion of the first course of vaccination. The NHS will contact you when it is your turn. 

People aged over 18 living in England who have had a full course of the COVID-19 vaccine can show their COVID-19 vaccination status for international travel.  

A full course is currently two doses of any approved vaccine.  

An NHS COVID Pass shows your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination details or test results. This is your COVID-19 status. 

You may be asked to show your pass to travel abroad, or at events and venues in England asking for proof of your COVID-19 status. 

You can get a digital version using the NHS App or NHS website. You must be registered with a GP surgery in England to use the app. 

You can ask for a paper version of your COVID-19 vaccination status to be sent to you in the post.  

You should get this within 5 working days. You do not need to be registered with a GP surgery or have an NHS login for this. You can get a paper version by: requesting a letter online calling 119 – do not call 119 if you’re travelling in more than 4 weeks’ time. You can request a letter 5 days after having your 2nd dose of the vaccine. 

For more information visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-pass/ 

In England, face coverings are now required by law in most indoor public places and on public transport, including taxis.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

Face coverings are not required in hospitality venues where food and drink are consumed (such as pubs, cafés and restaurants), or during exercise (such as gyms), including dancing (such as nightclubs).

Public Health England’s infection prevention control guidelines and hospital visiting guidance remain in place for all staff and visitors. 

That means NHS visitor guidance will stay in place across all health services including hospitals, GP practices, dental practices, optometrists and pharmacies to ensure patients and staff are protected. 

Staff, patients and visitors will also be expected to continue to follow social distancing rules when visiting any health and care setting as well as using face coverings, mask and other personal protection equipment. 

The latest information is available on the NHS website.