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Getting a COVID-19 vaccine

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

Important: Changes to COVID-19 vaccinations

If you are eligible for a seasonal COVID-19 vaccine, book your appointment online by 14 December 2023. You will not be able to book a vaccination online or by calling NHS 119 after this date.

After 14 December 2023, you may be able to book a seasonal COVID-19 vaccine with a local NHS vaccination service, but there will be fewer appointments and you may have to travel further.

Who is eligible for a seasonal COVID-19 vaccine

You or your child may be offered a seasonal COVID-19 vaccine if you are:

  • aged 65 years old or over (you need to be 65 years old by 31 March 2024)
  • aged 6 months to 64 years old and are at increased risk
  • living in a care home for older adults
  • a frontline health or social care worker
  • aged 16 to 64 years old and are a carer
  • aged 12 to 64 years old and live with someone with a weakened immune system
People at increased risk from COVID-19 aged under 16 years old

You may be at increased risk from COVID-19 if you or your child have a health condition, such as:

  • a long-term lung condition, such as asthma (if you need steroid tablets) or cystic fibrosis
  • a long-term heart condition, such as congenital heart disease
  • a long-term condition of the kidney, liver or digestive system
  • breathing difficulties that may occur in people with a diagnosis of, for example, epilepsy, autism, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, or a disease of the nervous system or muscles
  • severe or multiple learning disabilities (or being on the learning disability register), such as Down's syndrome
  • diabetes or another hormone disorder, such as Addison's disease
  • a weakened immune system, due to a medical treatment (such as steroid medicine, biological therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy), a condition (such as leukaemia), a genetic condition or from having an organ or bone marrow transplant
  • problems with the spleen, having no spleen or having a condition that can affect the spleen (such as sickle cell disease)
  • a serious genetic condition that affects multiple systems in the body, such as mitochondrial disease
  • being pregnant (all stages)
  • living in a long-stay nursing and residential care home as a younger adult

This list is a summary and does not cover everything. There are other health conditions and treatments that may mean you or your child are at increased risk from COVID-19.

You should be told if you or your child are at increased risk from COVID-19. If you're unsure, speak to a pharmacist, GP or your specialist for advice.

People at increased risk from COVID-19 aged 16 years old and over

You may be at increased risk from COVID-19 if you have a health condition, such as:

  • a long-term lung condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma (if you need steroid tablets) or cystic fibrosis
  • a long-term heart condition, such as congenital heart disease, chronic heart failure or atrial fibrillation
  • long term kidney disease (CKD) stage 3, 4 or 5
  • a severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis
  • a long-term problem with the brain or nerves, such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Huntington's disease, myasthenia gravis, or a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
  • severe or multiple learning disabilities (or being on the learning disability register), such as Down's syndrome
  • diabetes or another hormone disorder, such as Addison's disease
  • a weakened immune system, due to a medical treatment (such as steroid medicine, biological therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy), a condition (such as leukaemia), or from having an organ or bone marrow transplant
  • problems with the spleen, having no spleen or having a condition that can affect the spleen (such as sickle cell disease)
  • living with severe obesity (having a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)
  • a severe mental health condition, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
  • being pregnant (all stages)
  • living in a long-stay nursing and residential care home as a younger adult.

This list is a summary and does not cover everything. There are other health conditions and treatments that may mean you're at increased risk from COVID-19.

You should be told if you have an increased risk from COVID-19. If you're unsure, speak to a pharmacist, GP or your specialist for advice.

How to get a seasonal COVID-19 vaccine

If you're eligible, you can get a seasonal COVID-19 vaccine by booking online, on the NHS App or by going to a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site.

Book your appointment online

You can book online to get your seasonal COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre or pharmacy.

Book your appointment on the NHS App

You can check if you're eligible for a seasonal COVID-19 vaccine and book an appointment.

Go to a walk-in vaccination site

Find a walk-in vaccination site to get your seasonal COVID-19 vaccine without needing an appointment.

Information:

If you cannot book appointments online or on the NHS App, you can call 119 free of charge. You can speak to a translator if you need to.

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.

You may be contacted by a local NHS service, such as your GP surgery, to get a vaccine for you or your child. This is usually done by text or a phone call, but you may sometimes get a letter or a notification in the NHS App.

If you live in a care home and you are eligible, staff at your care home will arrange your vaccination for you.

Important: COVID-19 and flu vaccines

Some people may be eligible for both seasonal COVID-19 and flu vaccines.

You may be asked if you want a flu vaccine at the same time.

1st and 2nd vaccines for children aged 6 months to 4 years old

Children aged 6 months to 4 years old who are at increased risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 can get a 1st and 2nd COVID-19 vaccine.

How to get a 1st and 2nd vaccine for children aged 6 months to 4 years old

Please contact your child's GP surgery to arrange their appointments.

Information:

Seasonal COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 6 months to 4 years old

Children aged 6 months to 4 years old who are at increased risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 can get a seasonal COVID-19 vaccine through their GP surgery. They need to have had their 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine over 91 days ago.

What to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms or COVID-19

If you have COVID-19, or think you might, wait until you feel better before getting vaccinated.

You should also wait if you have a high temperature or feel particularly unwell with any illness. If you have recently recovered from COVID-19, there's no need to delay getting vaccinated.

More information

Page last reviewed: 21 March 2023
Next review due: 21 March 2026