All COVID-19 vaccinations are free of charge and only available through the NHS. Text messages from the NHS will show as being sent from NHSvaccine and will only link to the NHS.uk website (opens in new window). The NHS will never ask you for your bank account or card details, your PIN or banking password, or ask you to press a button on your keypad.

The number and strength of doses depends on how old you are and whether you are immunosuppressed or living with someone who is immunosuppressed. Click on the link to Important information about coronavirus for more information (opens in new window).

Everyone aged 5 and over can get a 1st and 2nd dose of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. As a guide:

Everyone aged 16 and over

• Two doses plus a booster

12 – 15 year olds who are at risk of serous illness or living with someone who is immunosuppressed

• Two doses plus a booster

Pregnant women

• Two doses plus a booster

Immunosuppressed and aged 12 and older

• Three doses plus a booster

Age 75 and over

• Three doses plus a booster

Yes. You will also need to have had these before you have the booster. Everybody aged 5 and over is recommended to have the COVID-19 vaccinations. Details of what vaccinations you should have and when are published on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus-vaccination (opens in new window)

Current advice is that if you are aged 18 or younger, you should not have a COVID-19 vaccination until 12 weeks after you have been symptom-free. If you are aged 18 and over, and eligible children aged 12 to 15, you should wait for four weeks. This gap is to allow your body to recover from the virus.

You can have your vaccinations at your GP practice, vaccination centres, community pharmacies and at walk in clinics. You can book an appointment through the NHS national booking service or visit a walk-in centre where you will not need an appointment. Depending on your age you will need to leave a gap between vaccinations and you will be given information about this when you have your  jab.

No. Although although some people may still be asked to wait for 15 minutes after receiving their vaccination. We used to ask everyone to wait for 15 minutes but because we need to rapidly increase the number of boosters given we have suspended the waiting time. You can read more about the reasons in the document “Waiting after your COVID vaccination” copies of which are at your vaccination centre. You can also read an online version of the document on the NHS website (opens in new window)

Side effects, if experienced, include:

• having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection. This tends to be worse around one to two days after the vaccination
• feeling tired
• headache
• general aches, or mild flu-like symptoms

You should rest and take paracetamol (follow the dose advice in the packaging) to help make you feel better. Although some people may feel feverish for two to three days, a high temperature is unusual and may indicate you have COVID-19 or another infection.

If you have any other COVID-19 symptoms or your fever lasts longer, stay at home and arrange to have a test. Symptoms following vaccinations normally last less than a week. If your symptoms seem to get worse or if you are concerned, you can call NHS111.

The Joint Committee for Vaccinations and Immunisations (JVCI) (opens in new window) recommended that people aged under 40 are offered an alternative vaccination where available.

The JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccine Immunisation) has advised that pregnant women are prioritised to have the COVID-19 vaccine and the booster alongside other groups at high risk from the virus. This is because latest evidence shows that pregnant women are at increased risk of severe effects of COVID-19 infections – especially in the last three months of their pregnancy. The risks include premature labour and stillbirth.

For more information about pregnancy and the COVID-19 vaccination:

• Talk to your GP, midwife, health visitor, pharmacist .
• Visit  the National Childbirth Trust website at www.nct.org.uk (opens in new window).
• Visit the Royal College of Obstetricians website at /www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-and-womens-health/ (opens in new window).

The immune system is reduced during pregnancy and the extra demands on your body during the third trimester could put you at risk of severe effects of COVID-19 infection. The risks of infection are:

• stillbirth
• giving birth prematurely
• pre-eclampsia

Like most adults you should have two primary doses of the vaccine eight weeks apart, followed by the booster vaccination three months after the second dose.

The recommended vaccines in pregnancy are Pfizer or Moderna.

The vaccines approved for use in the UK have met strict safety and effectiveness standards. They have been approved by an independent body, the MHRA (The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency). which follows international safety standards.

The vaccines have gone through the same clinical trials and safety checks that all other licenced medicines have to complete satisfactorily before use.

• Over 55,000 pregnant women in England and Scotland have received a COVID-19 vaccine with no adverse effects recorded.
• Research from six studies in four countries, involving more than 40,000 pregnant women has confirmed that vaccine does not increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, growth or any congenital abnormalities.

As with all new medicines, the vaccine wasn’t routinely offered to pregnant women until more information was available. As that data became available, the advice changed and the JCVI confirmed that the vaccine is both safe and effective to take in pregnancy.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives have both recommended vaccinations as one of the best ways pregnant women can protect themselves against severe COVID-19 infection.

For more information about pregnancy and the COVID-19 vaccination:

• Talk to your GP, midwife, health visitor, pharmacist .
• Visit  the National Childbirth Trust website at www.nct.org.uk (opens in new window).
• Visit the Royal College of Obstetricians website at /www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-reserch-services/coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-and-womens-health/ (opens in new window).

No. There is absolutely no link between having the vaccine and miscarriage. The MHRA (The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) monitors all data on vaccines in pregnancy and has confirmed that there is no increase in the numbers of miscarriages or stillbirths being reported in women who have had the COVID-19 vaccination.

No. A study has been carried out on this and has shown there’s no evidence of any injury to the placenta in women who received the COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy.

Yes. the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective at any stage of pregnancy, so you should have it as soon as possible. Make sure you have both primary doses and follow the second one three months later with the booster.

Yes. Getting vaccinated before pregnancy helps prevent COVID-19 infection and its serious consequences. You do not need to delay pregnancy after having the vaccination and fertility experts recommend having the vaccine if you’re trying to conceive.

Yes. Fertility experts, including the British Fertility Society and Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists recommend having the vaccine if you are trying to conceive or are having fertility treatment. Your medical team can advise you about the best times, depending on your situation.

By being vaccinated at this time, you will help to protect yourself and your baby from the effects of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy.

No. Medical experts agree that it’s not possible for the vaccines to affect fertility. Like all vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines teach your body to fight the disease. They don’t contain any ingredients that would affect fertility and the components leave the body within a few days.

Yes. COVID-!9 vaccines are safe to have when breastfeeding. The components leave the body within a few days and there is no possible way any vaccine ingredient could pass to your baby through breast milk.

Yes. Vaccination centres welcome women who may need to bring their baby or children along in addition to a family member, friend or partner who may be offering support at this appointment. Breastfeeding facilities are available if needed, as well as access to information and support around vaccination.

Some people may experience side effects, which include::

• having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection. This tends to be worse around one to two days after the vaccination
• feeling tired
• headache
• general aches, or mild flu-like symptoms

You should rest and take paracetamol, which is safe in pregnancy (follow the dose advice in the packaging) to help make you feel better. Although some people may feel feverish for two to three days, a high temperature is unusual and may indicate you have COVID-19 or another infection.

If you have any other COVID-19 symptoms or your fever lasts longer, stay at home and arrange to have a test. Symptoms following vaccinations normally last less than a week. If your symptoms seem to get worse or if you are concerned, you can call NHS111.

The following websites have published information about pregnancy, breastfeeding and having the COVID-19 vaccination. You should also talk to your GP, midwife, health visitor or pharmacist if you have questions or concerns.

(All sites listed below open in a new window).

• NHS England Pregnancy, breastfeeding, fertility and the COVID-19 vaccination.
• The Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG) Decision Aid.
• RCOG COVID-19: vaccines, pregnancy, breastfeeding & fertility.
• Royal College of Midwives Information sheet for pregnant women.
• Public Health England a guide for all women of childbearing age, pregnant or breastfeeding.
• GOV.UK: COVID-19 vaccination a guide on pregnancy & breastfeeding.
• National Childbirth Trust website  www.nct.org.uk

As well as protecting children and young people against serious COVID-19 infection, the vaccination can help to reduce the risk of them passing the infection on to others. Getting the vaccine can also make it easier for children and young people to avoid putting their lives and education on hold because of further disruption to schools, hobbies and social events due to the virus.

Appointments will be available at selected vaccination centres and community pharmacies and can be booked online at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination  (opens in new window) or by calling 119. Some GP services will be offering vaccinations to their patients in this age group but please do not contact your practice unless you are invited to make an appointment.

The COVID-19 vaccine should give your child stronger protection than natural immunity from previous infection against serious complications of infection – including any future waves due to new variants. Your child should also have some protection from the mild symptoms, and vaccination lowers the risk they will pass the virus on to others around them.

For most children, COVID-19 is a mild illness that may require a few days off school, but rarely leads to complications. For a very few children, the symptoms can be more serious or last longer. There is evidence that some children will experience Long COVID and a minority of children may develop a delayed response known as Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS-TS or PIMS) following COVID-19 infection.

Children with certain health conditions, or those with a weakened immune system, are at higher risk of serious COVID-19 disease. These children and those who live with someone who has a weakened immune system should already have been invited for vaccination.

For some people coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection has gone. This is sometimes called post-COVID-19 syndrome or Long COVID. The chances of having long-term symptoms does not seem to be linked to how ill you are when you first get COVID-19. People who had mild symptoms at first can still have long-term problems. There are lots of symptoms you can have after a COVID-19 infection. Common Long COVID symptoms include extreme tiredness, shortness of breath and difficulty sleeping. A full list of symptoms is available on the NHS website (opens in new window)

The risk to a child of serious impact from COVID-19 is relatively low, but it will be lower if they get the vaccine. Research shows the COVID-19 vaccine can prevent the virus’ worst effects, reduce the risk of hospitalisation, and it can protect your child and those around them from catching the virus as easily.

The majority of children and young people experience only mild symptoms following COVID-19 infection or are asymptomatic. However, there is evidence that some will experience Long COVID, and a minority of children may develop a delayed response known as Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS-TS or PIMS) following COVID-19 infection.

The vaccine has been tested across the world and found to be safe and effective, including for children this age.

The JCVI has recommended that the NHS offer vaccinations to all 5-11 year olds, to boost immunity and increase their protection against any future waves of COVID-19. This recommendation has been accepted by government and the vaccine has been approved for this age group by the UK’s medicines regulator, so the NHS is offering the vaccine to this group.

COVID-19 is still active and causing some children to miss out on their education and the things they enjoy.

The NHS wants to support families to make an informed choice, and to make things convenient and child-friendly for those who do decide to get it.

No. Your child cannot catch COVID-19 from the vaccine. There is sometimes a delay in symptoms, so it is possible they could catch the virus but not realise this until after their vaccination.

The COVID-19 vaccination will reduce the chance of your child suffering from COVID-19 disease. It may take a few weeks for their body to build up maximum protection from the vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine should give your child long lasting protection against serious complications of infection – including any future waves due to new variants. Some children may still get COVID-19 despite being vaccinated, but this should be less severe. If a child has had COVID-19 they will still get extra protection from the vaccine, but they will need to wait 12 weeks before getting vaccinated.

Children aged 5-11 with no other underlying health conditions will be offered two paediatric (child) doses of the Pfizer vaccine, with at least 12 weeks between doses. A paediatric dose is smaller than the doses given to people aged 12 and over.

5-11 year olds will be given a paediatric dose, 10 micrograms of Pfizer vaccine, compared to the 30 micrograms of Pfizer vaccine given to older children and adults. The majority of children and young people (CYP) experience only mild symptoms following COVID-19 infection or are asymptomatic. A smaller dose will provide protection while also reducing the risk of side-effects.

Yes. The immune response in 5-11 year olds after a paediatric dose of the vaccine will protect them from severe disease and reduce the risk of side-effects, in the same way that the adult dose protects those aged 12 and over.

the vaccine does not remove the virus, but research and experience in countries around the world shows it can prevent the worst effects of COVID-19 and reduce the risk of infection to your child and people around them

Children aged 5-11 years-old who are more at risk from the effects of COVID-19 have already been  offered the vaccine and can get two paediatric (child) doses, eight weeks apart. Their GP or hospital specialist should have been in touch to arrange this.

Parents, carers or people with parental responsibilities should attend COVID-19 vaccination appointments with their child. Unlike vaccinations in schools, consent is collected on the day so this is the best way to make sure they can be vaccinated by going through questions together on site. For looked after children, please refer to the care plan where permissions and restrictions of consent will be outlined. Click on the following link for further information on consent to treatment for children and young people COVID-19 vaccination consent form for parents.(opens in new window)

All vaccination sites, including GP practices and pharmacies are making efforts to ensure the vaccination environment is child-friendly and welcoming for families with young children. Vaccinators will make reasonable adjustments and fast-track people who are worried about vaccination. For example, sites may offer longer appointments and minimise the waiting time for children who are feeling anxious

The NHS follows government decisions about who to vaccinate and the number of doses they receive, which reflect recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI). Currently there are no plans to offer healthy 5-11 year olds a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) (opens in new window) recommends that anyone who is severely immunosuppressed should have three doses of the vaccination plus a booster. This is because evidence shows that you may not have responded as well to the first and second vaccinations as other people, and therefore have less protection against COVID-19. The group affected includes people with leukaemia, advanced HIV, and people who have had recent organ transplants.

Your consultant has been asked to identify eligible patients and recommend when the best time is for them to have their doses. You will be contacted by your consultant or GP to arrange your vaccination.

You should have your booster three months after your third vaccination.

The NHS is developing plans to offer paediatric (children’s) doses of the vaccine to children aged 5 – 11 from April 2020. The recommendation to extend the offer to children in this group was made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JVCI).

Children aged 5 – 11 who are at risk of serious illness, or those living with someone who is immunosuppressed, are already being offered the vaccine.

Details of the wider offer will be announced as soon as they are available. Please do not contact your GP or other NHS service for more information as they will not have it yet and responding to enquiries may prevent someone else who needs help from getting through.

You can click on the following link to read the JCVI statement for current information (opens in a new window).

Children aged 12 – 15 are being offered two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

A second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for young people aged 12 to 15 years is advised no sooner than 12 weeks after the first dose.

Children in this age group who are at risk of serious illness or living with someone who is immunosuppressed will be offered two doses plus a booster.

Further details about vaccinations for 12-15 year olds is published on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus (opens in new window)

This is an additional vaccine dose offered to people who have already had two doses (or for immunosuppressed people aged 12 and older, three doses) of a COVID-19 vaccine. It will help to ensure continued protection for those people at most risk from COVID-19.

Over time, the protection provided by the first two (or three) doses weakens. The booster provides additional protection against COVID-19, particularly for people who are most likely to become seriously ill from the virus, and for those who care for them. By having the booster, you are increasing your defence against the potential life-threatening symptoms of COVID-19.

Independent experts, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JVCI) (opens in new window) have said that everybody who has had the first two doses of the COVID-19 vaccination should receive the booster. People who are immunosuppressed should have the booster after they have had three doses of the vaccination.

No. You need to have completed the earlier doses before you can have your COVID-19 booster.

Current advice is that if you are aged 18 or younger, you should not have any COVID-19 vaccination until 12 weeks after you have been symptom free. People aged over 18 should wait for four weeks (including the booster). This gap is to allow your body to recover from the virus.

Yes, Pregnant women are strongly advised to have the first two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and the booster. As well as being life-threatening for some people, there have been cases when having the COVID-19 virus while pregnant has resulted in early delivery and serious birth complications for mother and baby.

For more information about pregnancy and the COVID-19 vaccinations:

• Talk to your GP, midwife, health visitor, pharmacist .
• Visit  the National Childbirth Trust website at www.nct.org.uk (opens in new window).
• Visit the Royal College of Obstetricians website at /www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-and-womens-health/ (opens in new window).

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

The NHS will contact you to let you know when it will be your turn to have your COVID-19 booster. This contact will be two months after you had your second (or third) vaccination. You can book an appointment through the NHS national booking service for a date three months after your last COVID-19 vaccination. If you decide to go to a walk-in centre rather than book an appointment, you will still have to wait until three months after your last dose before you can have your booster.

The booster vaccine is available through a range of NHS services. Primary care teams will vaccinate care home staff and residents. Health and social care staff will need to book through their employer. Members of the public can have their booster through their GP practice and / or will be contacted by the NHS to book through the national COVID-19 vaccination booking service and have their vaccination at a designated pharmacy, vaccination centre or GP-led service.

Generally, younger, healthy people are expected to generate stronger vaccine-induced immune responses from having two vaccinations, compared to older people.

After reviewing data on booster responses from different vaccine combinations, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JVCI) (opens in new window) has advised that the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines (both are mRNA vaccines) are offered as the booster dose, even if you had a different vaccine for your earlier vaccinations. Both have been shown to be well-tolerated and promote a stronger booster response. If the Moderna vaccine is given as a booster, you will receive a half dose instead of a full dose. This is due to the short-term side effects seen after full doses were given in clinical trials.

Where mRNA vaccines cannot be given (for example due to an allergy), vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine may be considered as a booster for people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine in their earlier doses.

Side effects, if experienced, include:

• having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm when you had your injection. This tends to be worst around one to two days after the vaccination
• feeling tired
• headache
• general aches, or mild flu-like symptoms.

You should rest and take paracetamol (follow the dose advice in the packaging) to help make you feel better. Although some people may feel feverish for two to three days, a high temperature is unusual and may indicate you have COVID-19 or another infection.

If you have any other COVID-19 symptoms or your fever lasts longer, stay at home and arrange to have a test. Symptoms following vaccinations normally last less than a week. If your symptoms seem to get worse or if you are concerned, you can call NHS111.

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

Although the COVID-19 vaccination will reduce the chance of you suffering from the virus, like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective. It may take a few days for your body to build up some protection from the booster. Some people may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination of booster, but it should be less severe

Yes. Both vaccines can be given at the same time. We encourage you to have your vaccinations as soon as possible and get fully protected rather than waiting, as it may not always be possible to have them together, particularly at walk-in centres.

Spring boosters are offered to people aged 75 years and over, people living in care homes and people aged 12 and over who have a weakened immune system.

COVID-19 is more serious in older people and those with a weakened immune system. If you are eligible it is because protection from the vaccine may also be lower and decline more quickly. Also, you may have had your first booster around six months ago. You are being offered a spring booster as a precaution to reduce the risk of your becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 or needing to be admitted to hospital if the number of people with the infection increases..

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that eligible people should have their spring booster around six months after their last dose for maximum effectiveness. You will receive your invitation to have the spring booster from the NHS between Monday 21 March and early summer.

The NHS will contact you, probably by a letter or text from the National Booking Service, when it is  your turn, inviting you to make an appointment at a vaccination centre of your choice.

You may also be contacted by your GP practice and offered an appointment. However, not all GP practices are offering boosters. Please only contact your GP about a spring booster if you receive an invitation from the practice.

If you haven’t had your previous booster, you can visit www.bit.ly/CovidVaccineBDC (opens in new window) to find your nearest walk-in centre or book an appointment. You can also call 119 free of charge. Translators are available on request.

We are asking people to wait until they are invited by the NHS and to book an appointment. This is because the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that people should until around six months since their last dose for maximum effectiveness. So, we are inviting people according to when they had their previous booster.

You will be given either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. These have been shown to be the most effective vaccines for booster doses, no matter which vaccine you had before. You do not need to have the same vaccine as you had for your previous booster.

Yes. You still need to get a booster dose of the vaccine for extra protection, even if you recently recovered from COVID-19. The vaccine gives you greater and longer-lasting protection than the antibodies you develop from having the virus. If you have recently recovered from the virus, you will need to wait for four weeks (28 days) before getting your spring booster.

The vaccines have enabled the removal of restrictions on everyday life, but COVID-19 is still active and there are still people in hospital unwell with the virus. Getting your booster will make sure you get the best possible protection against the virus and help to keep you and others safe.

You may experience some mild side effects from the booster dose, regardless of how you reacted to previous COVID-19 vaccines. Side effects are very mild, do not last for very long and not everybody will get them. They can include a sore arm, feeling tired, a headache, feeling achy and feeling or being sick. If you do get these, a pain killer such as paracetamol is recommended.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is continuing to monitor all available data and evidence to determine how often vaccinations will be needed by different groups. The NHS is preparing to deliver an autumn dose of the vaccine, but what is required and who will be eligible for it will depend on future recommendations from the JCVI.

Yes. It’s never too late to have your first or second dose and you do not need to be registered with a GP. Details of local walk-in options are available at www.bit.ly/CovidVaccineBDC (opens in new window) or you can book an appointment at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccine (opens in new window), or by calling 119.

No. These are only being offered to the groups that have recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) because they are at particular risk from COVID-19.

It is not possible to get a spring booster for any non-health related reasons, such as travel requirements.