The NHS is continuing to vaccinate patients against coronavirus during the biggest immunisation programme in history. We have produced the following to help with some of the frequently asked questions that have been coming through. If you have a question to add to our FAQs please get in touch with us.
Who can get the vaccine?
People aged 16 and over are now eligible for their vaccine.
If you are in one of the eligible groups and haven’t received your vaccine yet, it isn’t too late to come forward. You can now book your vaccination appointment at nhs.uk/covidvaccination, or by calling 119. If you prefer, you can also wait to be contacted by a local GP-led service.
More detailed information about the eligible groups is available on the NHS website.
How will I be invited for my vaccine?
Young people aged 16 or 17
You can get your first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine if you’re aged 16 or 17.
There are two ways you can get a vaccine:
- You’ll be contacted by the NHS when it’s your turn to get the vaccine, and will be invited to a local NHS service such as a GP surgery.
- You can attend a walk-in vaccination site. Some walk-in vaccination sites in Portsmouth and the local area are offering the vaccine to people aged 16 and 17.
Find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site
You don’t need to be accompanied by an adult, and don’t need permission from an adult if you’re aged 16 or 17
You can bring your NHS number to a walk-in appointment if you know it, but that isn’t essential.
Read what happens at your vaccine appointment on the NHS’s website.
People aged 18 and over
Anyone aged 18 and over can get a COVID-19 vaccine. They are given in two doses. You can have your second dose eight weeks after your first.
For anyone aged over 18, there a different ways to get your vaccine. You can:
- Book an appointment online through the NHS website
- Find a local walk-in clinic– no appointments needed
If you can’t book online, you can call 119 free of charge. You can speak to a translator if you need to.
You can bring your NHS number to a walk-in appointment if you know it, but that isn’t essential.
How can I get my second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine?
If you book your appointments online, you’ll be asked to book your first and second appointments at the same time. You can manage your appointments on the NHS website to view appointments and re-book if needed.
If you have your first dose at a walk-in clinic, you can book your second COVID-19 vaccination appointment online after 24 hours of your first dose. Or you can attend a walk-in clinic 8 weeks after your first dose.
You should have the same vaccine for both doses, unless you had a serious allergic reaction to the first.
I have received a letter with a link to book my vaccination but there are no locations nearby to book. What should I do?
If you live within 30 to 45 minutes of a vaccination centre, and haven’t been vaccinated, you may have received a letter asking to book an appointment through the national booking service online at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119 for free. If the vaccination centre nearest to you is not showing, please continue to check the site regularly as more slots will be added as they become available.
If you would prefer to be vaccinated by your local GP practice please wait to be contacted by your GP practice.
Do I need to know my NHS number to use the booking website/phone line?
No. It’s easier if you do have your NHS number, but if you don’t both the NHS booking website and phone line 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 at www.nhs.uk/find-nhs-number.
How can I make changes to my appointment?
If you have a vaccination appointment booked and need to change it, you will need to contact the team you booked the appointment through. This could be your GP practice team if you booked your appointment through your practice. If you are booked into a vaccination centre you will need to contact the national booking service by managing your appointment online or calling 119 if you can’t get online. Through the online service you can view and cancel your appointments.
Can I bring children to the vaccination centre?
You’re asked that, where possible, dependents are not brought to the centres. This is so that social distancing can be maintained and to enable the management of any emergency situations more appropriately in the unlikely event that they should arise.
I have lost the vaccination card from my appointment, what should I do?
You don’t need to do anything as your GP practice will have a record of your vaccination. If you do need any of the details that would have been on your card please contact your practice online, using the online services link on your GP practice website, wherever possible.
How long does the vaccine last? Should I still wear a face covering when I go shopping? Can I hug my grandchildren now?
Once you have received your vaccination it is still really important that you continue to follow all the guidance in place to control the virus and save lives.
Find out more guidance about what to expect after your COVID-19 vaccination in this information leaflet (the link also includes a large print version, translated versions and a British Sign Language video).
Which vaccines are available?
There are currently four COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the UK. These are:
- Moderna
- Oxford/AstraZeneca
- Pfizer/BioNTech
- Janssen (available later this year)
When you book, you’ll be offered appointments for vaccines that are suitable for you. This might be due to your age or if you are pregnant for example.
Walk-in clinics should advertise what type of vaccines are being offered at the clinic.
Is the NHS confident the vaccines are safe?
Yes. The NHS will not offer any Covid-19 vaccinations to the public until independent experts have signed off that it is safe to do so.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the official UK regulator, have said the vaccines have good safety profiles and offer a high level of protection, and we have full confidence in their expert judgement and processes.
As with any medicine, vaccines are highly regulated products.
There are checks at every stage in the development and manufacturing process, and continued monitoring once it has been authorised and is being used in the wider population. The NHS website has more information about safety of the vaccine.
Can I have the vaccine if I’m pregnant?
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that pregnant women should be offered a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as people of the same age or risk group.
Find out more about the guidance for women of childbearing age, who are currently pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding in this guide and on the NHS website.
Are there any groups that shouldn’t have the vaccine?
People with history of a severe allergy to the ingredients of the vaccines should not be vaccinated. Clinicians will discuss this with people before vaccinating them.
How many vaccinations have been given out across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight so far?
Figures on vaccination uptake for the UK will be published on a weekly basis on the Public Health England coronavirus data dashboard.
I’ve received an invitation for the vaccine which I am worried could be fraudulent, what should I do?
We are aware that some people are receiving suspicious calls and text messages offering the COVID-19 vaccination.
Coronavirus vaccines are only available on the NHS. You can be contacted by the NHS, your employer, or a GP surgery local to you, to receive your vaccine. Remember, the vaccine is free of charge. At no point will you be asked to pay.
- The NHS will never ask you for your bank account or card details.
- The NHS will never ask you for your PIN or banking password.
- The NHS will never arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine.
- The NHS will never ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips.
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.
Who can I talk to if I have any additional questions or feedback?
When the NHS contacts you for an appointment, please discuss your concerns at that point. If you have a question we haven’t answered here please get in touch or you can contact your local Patient Experience Team by emailing pccg.enquiries@nhs.net.