The Covid-19 vaccine helps to make us all safer. It has been proved safe and effective by independent experts, and is the best way to protect people from coronavirus and save thousands of lives.
Research shows you’re more likely to be seriously ill if you get flu and Covid at the same time. Don’t delay having your flu vaccine this year. Get a free flu jab
How to get vaccinated
You can get your vaccine or booster in one of the following ways:
If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, or are a British Sign Language (BSL) user, you can use textphone 18001 119 or the NHS 119 BSL interpreter service.
Vaccines and booster jabs
You will be offered an autumn booster if you:
aged 50 or over
pregnant
aged 5 and over and at high risk from COVID-19 due to a health condition or a weakened immune system
aged 5 and over and live with someone who has a weakened immune system
aged 16 and over and a carer, either paid or unpaid
living or working in a care home for older people
a frontline health and social care worker
You can have your seasonal booster (autumn booster) if it's been at least 3 months since you had your previous dose.
If you have not had a 1st or 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine yet, you should have them as soon as possible.
If you have a severely weakened immune system you should get an additional primary dose before you get a booster.
Image caption:
Image 2: Map of pharmacies and hospitals in H&F offering Covid vaccine and booster
Further information and frequently asked questions
The Covid-19 vaccine will give you good protection from coronavirus but there is a chance you might still get or spread coronavirus even if you have the vaccine. To reduce the spread of coronavirus in the community, please continue to follow government guidelines even after you have been vaccinated.
Older people, or those with a health condition are at higher risk from Covid-19 or flu. Both are serious illnesses. Having both the Covid-19 booster vaccine and flu jab is the best way to protect yourself.
I’ve had 2 doses of Covid-19 vaccine, why do I need a booster?
The Covid-19 booster will help improve your longer-term protection against getting seriously ill from the virus.
Will the flu jab give me flu?
No, the flu jab cannot give you the flu. It is an inactivated vaccine, which means it does not contain any of the live flu virus.
Can I have both flu and coronavirus vaccines at the same time?
Yes, If you are offered both vaccines, it's safe to have them at the same time.
Is it still safe to get the flu jab if I’ve had Covid-19?
If you've had Covid-19, it's safe to have the flu vaccine. It will still be effective at helping to prevent flu.
I’m pregnant, will the flu jab or booster vaccine harm me or my baby?
No it won’t. Having both the flu and Covid-19 vaccine will help protect you and your baby. It's safe to have the vaccines at any stage of pregnancy.
How will students be invited for the Covid-19 vaccination?
Students registered with a GP can book their appointment at a larger vaccination centre, a community pharmacy run site or at some GP run sites through the National Booking Service website or by phoning 119.
Those who are registered with a GP will also receive an invitation to be vaccinated from their GP practice.
In general, you should return to the place you had your first dose to have the second dose.
However, it is appropriate for students to receive their second dose in a different location to their first dose due to their circumstances. The National Booking Service has an option to book or re-arrange the second vaccination appointment at a different location to the first appointment.
If a student had a first dose in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, but is in England at the time of their second dose, they should either book a second dose through the National Booking Service (if they are registered with a GP in England and therefore have an English NHS number), or register with a GP in England and book an appointment that way. Or the student can approach a local GP and ask to be vaccinated as an unregistered patient.
Can students due to start a health or social care placement be vaccinated before their placement starts?
Anyone who starts working in the NHS or in social care and has not been vaccinated should be offered the vaccination through occupational health departments or be aware of where they can access the vaccination through their employer.
The second dose should not be brought forward in these circumstances.
What if a student is eligible for their first dose in England, but will be abroad for their second dose (eg overseas placement)?
The student should contact the health service in the country where they are resident at the time the second dose is due.
How can students obtain a Covid vaccine certificate?
Are international students eligible for the vaccination?
Anybody aged 16 or over in the UK is eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination for free, regardless of their nationality or immigration status.
Do international students need to pay for the vaccine?
Nobody in England has to pay for the Covid-19 vaccination. The Covid-19 vaccination is free of charge and does not count as the kind of care that requires payment.
International students or anyone seeing requests for payment should report this activity to their university institution and to Action Fraud.
Do international students need to be registered with a GP to get a vaccination?
While registration with a GP is encouraged to access the vaccine, individuals can request to book Covid-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient through a local GP practice.
How does an international student get an NHS number?
International students can approach their local GP practice, saying they would like to register for the purposes of receiving the vaccine.
Are any dependents of international students also eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination?
Anyone in England is eligible for the vaccine if they fall within the current eligibility criteria set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and should come forward once it is their turn.
How does an international student get a vaccine?
International students should be encouraged to register with a GP and get an NHS number.
An NHS number can be found on any letter the NHS has sent you, on a prescription, or by logging in to a GP practice online service. You can also find an NHS number using this tool.
It is possible to request to book Covid-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient by approaching a local GP practice. While registration with a GP is encouraged to access the vaccine, individuals can request to book Covid-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient through a local GP practice.
If an international student is not registered with a GP, will they still be invited for their vaccination?
Students who are not registered with a GP will not be proactively contacted by a local NHS service. We encourage all students to register with a GP and they can be directed to www.nhs.uk/register for more information.
However, international students can book their vaccination appointments via the National Booking Service with their NHS number if they have previously received NHS treatment. You can also find an NHS number using this tool.
What should an international student do if they’ve received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination abroad, and it is not a vaccine that is being offered in England?
If a person has received a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine overseas that is also available in the UK, they should receive the same vaccine for their second dose. If the vaccine they received for their first dose is not available in the UK, advice on the most similar alternative should be offered (see sections on vaccine interchangeability guidance).
The student should contact a GP to ensure they receive an appropriate vaccine for their second dose.
You are encouraged to book via the NHS coronavirus vaccination booking page as it will offer an appointment in line with your eligibility and will avoid you being turned away due to lack of availability of vaccines.
Do I need to know my NHS number to use the booking website or phone line?
No. It’s easier if you do have your NHS number, but if you don’t, you can still book appointments using other details, provided you are registered with a GP practice. You can find your NHS number on the NHS App or on the NHS find your NHS number web page.
Why have I not been contacted by anyone about a vaccination?
If you are aged 12 or over or were on the shielded patient list, then it is likely that you have been contacted by the NHS already. If you haven’t, this could be for a number of reasons, but is most likely to be because you are not registered with a GP or have recently moved, and the NHS therefore don’t have your contact details.
If you have never registered with a GP or haven’t been to a GP for a number of years, we would recommend speaking with your local practice about registering.
As well as getting access to Covid-19 vaccines, being registered with a GP also means you are invited to important health checks such as for cancer or heart disease, and can access care easier when you need it.
If you don’t have an NHS number this is likely to be because you are not registered with a GP. If this is the case, we would recommend speaking with your local practice about registering.
As well as getting access to Covid-19 vaccines, being registered with a GP also means you are invited to important health checks such as for cancer or heart disease, and can access care easier when you need it.
What if I book an appointment through the NHS website or 119 and I need to rearrange it?
If you need to rearrange an appointment that you booked through the NHS website, you can do this through the ‘manage your appointments’ section on the booking page. Book or manage your coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination
If you booked through 119, you can also ring to rearrange your appointment.
If you can’t attend your appointment for any reason, please cancel or rearrange it so that the appointment slot can be given to someone else who needs it.
Can I still book if I previously had an appointment but didn’t attend or cancel it?
Yes. Only those who have had a vaccination recorded are marked on the system and are therefore unable to book again.
What do I do if I have an invitation to go to a mass vaccination centre as well as from my GP?
Please avoid travelling as much as possible and go to your local GP, even if you have already accepted an appointment at a mass vaccination centre. Please cancel that one and go to your GP appointment.
During national lockdowns, will vaccines still be provided and should I still attend my appointment?
Yes. Getting the Covid-19 vaccine, or any other vaccine, is an important medical appointment and vaccinations will continue as normal. If you have booked or are offered an appointment, please attend it. The place that you choose to have your vaccine will keep you safe from Covid-19 through a range of measures including cleaning and disinfecting and having social distancing in waiting areas. Please also wear a face covering to your appointment. You should also take the usual steps to minimise your risk as you travel to your appointment.
How are housebound residents being vaccinated?
NHS GP hubs, in partnership with NHS community trusts, are going out to the homes of clinically vulnerable and older residents who are unable to attend a GP hub for their covid vaccine.
A housebound resident is one who has the majority of their care delivered in their home. However, many are able to travel with support and where that is possible, vaccinations are being given at GP vaccination hubs.
For those unable to leave home, NHS staff will be taking the vaccine to them in a cool box. Only one person will enter the house and they will stay no longer than necessary. Residents will be asked in advance to open windows and keep other members of the household at a suitable distance.
Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines have been shown to be safe and offer high levels of protection, and have been given regulatory approval by the MHRA.
Any coronavirus vaccine that is approved must go through all the clinical trials and safety checks all other licensed medicines go through. The UK has some of the highest safety standards in the world.
Other vaccines are being developed. They will only be available on the NHS once they have been thoroughly tested to make sure they are safe and effective.
To find out more about the vaccines approved in the UK, see:
The 1st dose of the Covid-19 vaccine should give you good protection from coronavirus. But you need to have 2 doses of the vaccine and the booster to give you longer lasting protection.
There is a chance you might still get or spread coronavirus even if you have the vaccine.
if you can, wear something that covers your nose and mouth in places where it's hard to stay away from other people
The Covid-19 vaccine will reduce the chance of you suffering from the Covid-19 disease. It may take a week or two for your body to build up some protection from the first dose of vaccine. Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective, so you should continue to take recommended precautions after vaccination to avoid infection. Some people may still get Covid-19 despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe.
Will the vaccines work with the new strains?
There is no evidence currently 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.
The Covid-19 vaccine does not contain any animal products or egg.
What about the allergic reactions that have been reported?
It’s very rare for anyone to have a serious allergic reaction to the vaccine (anaphylaxis). If this does happen, it usually happens within minutes. Staff giving the vaccine are trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.
Can I give Covid-19 to anyone, after I have had the vaccine?
The vaccine cannot give you the Covid-19 infection, but it will reduce your chance of becoming seriously ill. We do not yet know whether it will stop you from catching and passing on the virus. So, it is important to follow the guidance in your local area to protect those around you. To protect yourself and your family, friends and colleagues you still need to:
practice social distancing
wear a face mask
wash your hands carefully and frequently
follow the current government guidance for your local area.
A minimum of 8 weeks is required between jabs.
It is important that you have both doses of your vaccine to ensure you have the maximum level of protection from coronavirus.
If you booked your first appointment through your local GP, pharmacy or hospital hub, you may have been able to book your second appointment at the same time. If not, you will be contacted by text, by call or by letter closer to the 12-week deadline to make an appointment.
If you booked your first vaccine through the online booking systems, you should have been able to book your appointment for your second vaccine as well. You can view and change the date of your second appointment through the NHS coronavirus vaccination booking page.
Can I go to a different vaccination centre for my second dose?
Yes. If you have booked both doses through the NHS booking system and want to re-book your second dose at a different centre, you can view and change the date of your second appointment through the NHS coronavirus vaccination booking page.
If you had your first dose through your GP surgery or hospital hub, you can let them know if there is a reason why you need to have your second dose somewhere else.
There are pop up clinics and buses in various locations in the borough where you can walk-in to get your first or second jab.
- Facebook
- Flickr
- Twitter
- Youtube
- Instagram
Close menu