What the COVID-19 vaccine is for

COVID-19 vaccination is an important part of protecting yourself if you're at increased risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.

The COVID-19 vaccines are offered because viruses change and protection fades over time. It's important to top up your protection if you're eligible.

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine can:

help reduce your risk of getting severe symptoms
help you recover more quickly if you catch COVID-19
help reduce your risk of having to go to hospital or dying from COVID-19
protect against different types of COVID-19 virus

You may still get or spread COVID-19 even if you have a vaccine, so it's important to follow advice about how to avoid catching and spreading COVID-19.

Who should have the COVID-19 vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for people at increased risk from COVID-19.

You may be offered a COVID-19 vaccine if you:

are aged 65 or over
are pregnant
are aged 6 months to 64 years and have an increased risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 because of a health condition or treatment
live in a care home for older adults
are a frontline health or social care worker

Who's at increased risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19

A full list of who may be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine because they're at increased risk getting seriously ill from COVID-19 is in tables 3 and 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the green book on GOV.UK.

This list includes certain long-term health conditions such as:

poorly-controlled asthma – this means you take steroid tablets or have taken more than one course in the last 2 years, or have needed hospital care for your asthma in the last 2 years
other conditions that affect your breathing, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or cystic fibrosis
heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease or high blood pressure (hypertension) with heart complications or chronic heart failure
chronic kidney disease
chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis
stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
some conditions that affect your brain or nerves and cause breathing problems, such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy
severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), including if you're on the learning disability register, and this affects your breathing
diabetes or Addison's disease
problems with your spleen, such as sickle cell disease, or if you've had your spleen removed
a weakened immune system due to a condition such as blood cancer or HIV, or due to a treatment such as chemotherapy, or immunosuppressive or steroid medicines
being very overweight – a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above
severe mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (if you're aged 16 or over)
chronic digestive issues, such as severe gastro-oesophageal reflux that causes repeated chest infections (if you're under 16)
hypopituitary syndrome (if you're under 16)
some genetic disorders, such as mitochondrial disease and chromosomal conditions (if you're under 16)

How to get the COVID-19 vaccine

If you're eligible for the winter COVID-19 vaccine, you can:

book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment online or in the NHS App – you need to book your vaccination before 20 December 2024
go to a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site

You can call 119 free of charge to book over the phone if you cannot book online. It's open Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm.

Some people may be able to get vaccinated through a local service, such as a community pharmacy or your GP surgery, or a care home if they live in a care home.

You do not need to wait for an invitation before booking an appointment.

How the COVID-19 vaccine is given

The COVID-19 vaccine is given as an injection.

Most people only need 1 dose of the winter COVID-19 vaccine.

Extra doses of the COVID-19 vaccine

Some people need an extra dose of the COVID-19 vaccine if they have a health condition or treatment that severely weakens their immune system. For example, if they have had a stem cell transplant or CAR-T therapy.

Your GP or specialist will assess your risk and tell you if you need an extra dose of the vaccine. They will advise you on when to get vaccinated based on your treatment plan, and help you find a local appointment. Speak to your GP or specialist for more information.

If your GP or specialist cannot arrange an appointment for you, you can contact your local NHS COVID-19 vaccination service.

Find local COVID-19 vaccination contacts on the NHS England website

Having the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines

You can have the winter COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as the flu vaccine. If you're eligible for an RSV vaccine, it's more effective to have it on a different day to your COVID-19 and flu vaccines.

Who cannot have the COVID-19 vaccine

Most people who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine can have it.

Some people are only offered certain vaccines, for example, if you're under 18 years old. Children under 12 years old will be given smaller doses than older children and adults.

Most people with allergies can have the COVID-19 vaccine, including if you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to a previous dose, such as a rash, swelling, wheezing or hives.

If you've ever had an allergic reaction, tell the healthcare staff at your appointment before you're vaccinated.

If you’re at risk of a severe allergic reaction, vaccination staff or your GP may refer you to an expert allergist or specialist to assess your risk. They may advise you to have the COVID-19 vaccine at a specialist clinic or hospital where you can be monitored. This will only happen in rare cases, for example if you have a history of anaphylaxis.

Getting vaccinated if you're unwell

If you have, or think you have, COVID-19 wait until you're feeling better before having the vaccine. You should also wait if you have a high temperature or feel very unwell with any illness.

If you’ve recently recovered from COVID-19, there is no need to wait to get the vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccine ingredients

There are 2 main types of COVID-19 vaccine given in the UK.

If you're eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on the NHS, you'll be offered a vaccine that’s appropriate for you. You cannot choose which COVID-19 vaccine you have.

The COVID-19 vaccines used by the NHS do not contain any animal products, including eggs.

Find out more about the COVID-19 vaccines used by the NHS:

Side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine

The most common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are mild and get better within a week.

They can include:

a sore arm from the injection
feeling tired
a headache
feeling achy
mild flu-like symptoms

If you or your child get side effects, rest and take paracetamol or paracetamol for children to help you feel better.

More serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) are very rare. The person who vaccinates you will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.

There have been rare cases of inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) reported after COVID-19 vaccination. Most people who had this recovered following rest and simple treatments.

The vaccine cannot give you COVID-19 infection.

Urgent advice: Contact NHS 111 if:

You or your child have had a COVID-19 vaccine and:

have symptoms that are getting worse
you're worried about your or your child's symptoms

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:

You or your child have any of these symptoms within a few days of being vaccinated:

chest pain or feeling of tightness in the chest
severe difficulty breathing – you're gasping, choking or not able to get words out
a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart (palpitations)

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

More information about vaccine side affects

COVID-19 vaccine safety

COVID-19 vaccines in use in the UK have all met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness. The safety of the vaccines has been extensively reviewed in both adults and children by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The MHRA are continuously monitoring the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines and reports of serious side effects are very rare.

More information about vaccine safety

Vaccination information for other parts of the UK

This information covers COVID-19 vaccination information for England.

Information for other parts of the UK: