FAQs

The Covid-19 Greenbook states as clinical deterioration can occur up to two weeks after infection, vaccination should be deferred until clinical recovery to around four weeks after onset of symptoms or four weeks from the first confirmed positive specimen in those who are asymptomatic.

Paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome (called PIMS-TS or PIMS for short) is a rare condition thought to be triggered by COVID-19. Although it is a relatively new rare condition, it can be detected early and treated successfully. For children and young people who developed PIM-TS as a result of a COVID infection and then become eligible for vaccination, the current guidance suggests an interval of three months should be followed. However the guidance also states that earlier administration of the vaccination can be considered in those at risk of infection and/or who are fully recovered.

The COVID-19 booster programme is the rollout of an additional vaccine dose to people who have previously received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to ensure continued protection for those most at risk from COVID-19.

We want to provide the people that are most likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19 and those who care for them with the best possible protection for this winter. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has reviewed available data and provided advice that COVID-19 boosters are first offered to the most vulnerable in order to provide maximum protection during the Winter months.

The flu vaccination programme is now running which protects people from serious complications from getting flu, so we would also encourage people that are eligible for a COVID-19 booster to also get their flu vaccination. More information on the flu vaccination is at www.nhs.uk/flujab

Get information on who is eligible for a booster vaccination from the NHS website.

The JCVI advises that the booster vaccine dose should be offered no earlier than six months after completion of the first course of vaccination.

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

The NHS will let eligible people know to have their booster vaccine when it is their turn.

The JCVI advises that the booster vaccine dose should be offered no earlier than six months after having the second dose of the vaccination. Like your previous doses, the vaccine will be given in your upper arm.

People will be offered the vaccine through a range of services. Primary care teams will vaccinate care home staff and residents. Health and social care staff will be directed to book their appointments through employers and members of the public will be invited to get their booster through a GP-led service and/or be contacted by the NHS to book through the national COVID-19 vaccination booking service to get their vaccination in a designated pharmacy, vaccination centre or GP-led service.

You should act to book an appointment now or in readiness for eligibility, don’t wait.

As most younger adults will only have received their second COVID-19 vaccine dose in late summer or early autumn, the benefits of booster vaccination in this group will be considered at a later time when more information is available.

After reviewing data on booster responses from different combinations of COVID-19 vaccines, JCVI advises a preference for the Pfizer-BioNTech (vaccine to be offered as the booster dose irrespective of which type of vaccine was used in the primary schedule). There is good evidence that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is well tolerated as a booster dose and will provide a strong booster response.

Alternatively, individuals may be offered a half dose of the Moderna vaccine, which should be well tolerated and is also likely to provide a strong booster response. A half dose of Moderna vaccine is advised over a full dose due to the levels of reactogenicity (side effects) seen following boosting with a full dose in clinical trials.

Where mRNA vaccines cannot be offered e.g. due to contraindication, vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine may be considered for those who received AstraZeneca vaccine in the primary course. More detail is available in the green book

As with your previous dose the common side effects are the same for all COVID-19 vaccines used in the UK, and include:

• having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection. This tends to be worst around 1 to 2 days after the vaccine
• feeling tired
• headache
• general aches, or mild flu like symptoms

You can rest and take paracetamol (follow the dose advice in the packaging) to help make you feel better. Although feeling feverish is not uncommon for 2 to 3 days, a high temperature is unusual and may indicate you have COVID-19 or another infection.

Although a fever can occur within a day or 2 of vaccination, if you have any other COVID-19 symptoms or your fever lasts longer, stay at home and arrange to have a test. Symptoms following vaccination normally last less than a week. If your symptoms seem to get worse or if you are concerned, you can call NHS 111.

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

The COVID-19 vaccination will reduce the chance of you suffering from COVID-19 disease. It may take a few days for your body to build up some protection from the booster.

Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective – some people may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe.

No, you have to have your first and second doses before you can have a booster.

The COVID-19 booster and the flu vaccine can be given on the same day and for people that are eligible for both, there may be opportunities to have both together. We would encourage you to get your vaccinations as soon as possible and get fully protected rather than waiting as it may not always be possible to get them together.

Everyone aged 16 and over that is eligible that hasn’t already had their first or second COVID-19 vaccination will still be able to get vaccinated, even when the COVID-19 booster programme begins. This may be through a GP-led service or by booking through the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination national booking service.

Everyone aged 18 and over can book their initial COVID-19 vaccination through the NHS booking service (call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week).

If you are pregnant and in one of the groups that the JCVI has recommended for the boosters, you are eligible to receive a booster, no earlier than six months after completion of the first course of vaccination. Don’t wait for an invite, work out when it’s six months after your second dose and book an appointment now, or make a note in your diary to visit a walk-in centre on that date.

GP’s have identified the housebound cohort. When they are eligible for their 3rd dose (6 months post 2nd), their GP will arrange to visit them to administer the Pfizer vaccine. We are monitoring delivery against this specific cohort and the SNEE C19 & Flu Prog Bd maintains delivery oversight.

Meanwhile, family members, neighbours and friends are being asked to help transport those eligible for a COVID-19 booster vaccination, who may need help in getting to a walk-in clinic, pharmacy, GP practice or vaccination centre, so they can receive their jab. With most booster jabs being administered using the Pfizer vaccine, which has specific storage and transportation needs and patient observation requirements, the home visits teams are currently able to deliver far fewer booster vaccinations at pace than during the 1st and 2nd dose phases of the programme. The teams administer COVID-19 vaccinations in a person’s home where they cannot easily attend a place where vaccination is being offered (e.g. to people who are bedbound). Where those people cannot get to a place of vaccination because of mobility issues, the NHS is asking family, neighbours and friends to offer support by taking them there.

Vaccination will be carried out by school-aged immunisation service (SAIS) providers, a group of provider organisations such as NHS community trusts who are contracted in local systems to provide routine immunisation services such as flu.

Schools will have three main roles, similar to those in other vaccination programmes:

• provide information to their SAIS provider on which children on their roll are eligible for the vaccine
• share information that the SAIS provider needs parents and children to have
• provide the space within school, and the time away from the timetable, to enable vaccinations to take place

The SAIS provider should work with school leaders to understand specific concerns and any mitigations which can be put into place. Where mitigations cannot be implemented, the SAIS provider should consider how an offer to those 12-15yr attending the school and who wish to receive the vaccine. This would be at an alternative site to the school and subject to local arrangements.

Primary care network (PCN) groupings delivering the COVID-19 vaccination enhanced service are the main providers for at-risk children, reflecting the existing relationships that general practice has with these children and their families. GPs and hospital hubs were asked to prioritise vaccinating this group so all eligible 12- to 15-year-olds were offered the opportunity to book an appointment by 23 August and a first vaccination before the start of the new school year.

All consent guidance is contained within Public Health England’s ‘Green Book’. SAIS providers are familiar with the consenting requirements within that publication.

A system letter sent by NHS England and NHS Improvement on 15 September set out an expectation of immediate commencement of the consent and invitation process.

The COVID-19 vaccination consent form for children and young people (including easy-read immunisation and consent resources) can be found at www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-resources-for-children-and-young-people .

As with all vaccinations, a consent form and information leaflet provided by the SAIS team will be used to seek consent from parents or those with parental responsibility. Parents will also be provided with a contact number for the SAIS team in case of any queries. Consent forms should be returned by the deadline agreed with the team.

Some children may be sufficiently mature to provide their own consent if their parents have not returned a consent form and they express a wish to have a vaccine on the day of the session. Trained professionals in the SAIS team, with expertise in vaccinating children and assessing consent, will speak to the child to assess intelligence, competence and understanding to fully appreciate what’s involved in their treatment, to determine appropriateness of administering the vaccine. This will include making every effort to contact the parent to seek their verbal consent and an assessment of the individual child’s capacity to self-consent, where appropriate.

The COVID-19 vaccination consent form for children and young people can be found at www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-resources-for-children-and-young-people.

Information on school flu consent is available at Flu vaccination programme 2021 to 2022: briefing for schools – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

No children under the age of 12 can yet receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 (Comirnaty®) is the only vaccine currently authorised for those aged 12-15. This vaccination is licensed only for children aged 12 and above, so only children who are 12 on or before the date of vaccination will be vaccinated.

Alternatives are available for children aged 16-17.75. There are a range of convenient walk-in centres available to them, and they will shortly be able to book using the National Booking System.

• not to engage directly: misinformation narratives and tactics flourish when they are responded to.
• to acknowledge receipt: if a response is needed, simply acknowledge receipt of concerns.
• to reassure: acknowledge concerns for wellbeing and emphasise and refer to the latest scientific guidance on the issue. Some helpful links include:
• The World Health Organisation’s ‘Mythbusters’ page
• The Check Before You Share Toolkit

The Roving and Mobile Models SOP is being reviewed with amendments to the security section, with attention to the requirement of a completed security risk assessment prior to deployment.

All current providers of SAIS must be given the opportunity to provide the COVID-19 Vaccination Service. We will issue a letter of intent to service providers together with a specification for the service and other contract documentation directly via NVOC.

No. The children’s training competencies published on FutureNHS and cascaded to the system on 23 July still apply to all children aged 12-18.

System lead employers should contact their local SAIS providers to discuss workforce requirements and support the deployment of additional staff to ensure that there are resilience arrangements in place.

The workforce and training requirements for handling these vaccines are already available to the system and full guidance can be found on FutureNHS.

SAIS teams will also be supported by designated pharmacy teams authorised by lead chief pharmacists / regional chief pharmacists.

No. Current school guidelines are keeping children safe in education, which were refreshed in September 2021 and map over NHS employment standards.

As set out in workforce guidelines issued to the system in late July, all providers will need to ensure that employees are checked to NHS standards and that they have an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) with a child bar check.

This is available at appendix 3 (p.20) of the children’s vaccination requirements, Workforce considerations for phase 3 children’s vaccination.

If a student aged 18 or over is registered with a GP practice, they can book both appointments online through the National Booking Service at a location that is convenient to them, or book a first dose through their GP and a second dose in a different location through the National Booking Service.

NHS England has published FAQs on second doses in general here. In general, patients should return to the place they had their first dose to have their 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 1) 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); 2) register with a GP in England and book an appointment that way; or 3) approach a local GP and ask to be vaccinated as an unregistered patient.

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.

The student should contact the health service in the country where they are resident at the time the second dose is due.

There is information on GOV.uk about COVID vaccine certification.

Anybody aged 18 or over in the UK is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination for free, regardless of their nationality or immigration status.

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. More information on COVID-19 vaccine scams is on the Action Fraud website here.

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.

International students can approach their local GP practice, saying they would like to register for the purposes of receiving the vaccine. 3 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.

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.

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. Students can be directed to nhs.uk/register for more information on GP registration.

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.

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, the most similar alternative should be offered as per the advice here(see sections on vaccine interchangeability guidance). The student should contact a GP to ensure they receive an appropriate vaccine for their second dose.

Students should be directed to nhs.uk/covid-vaccination for more information about the Covid-19 vaccine. Students should be directed to www.gov.uk for information on COVID restrictions.

The NHS vaccinates in line with guidance from the independent JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation), which provides expert advice on vaccinations to UK health departments. The JCVI recommends that only certain groups of children and young people are vaccinated because of a combination of factors including their risk of getting seriously ill from coronavirus, passing it to others who may become seriously ill, and evidence of safety and effectiveness.

The NHS is aiming to offer vaccination to all children and young people in the eligible groups by the start of the autumn term in September. If your child is in one of the new groups recommended for vaccination by the JCVI, you will be contacted by the NHS before then to arrange for your child’s vaccinations.16 and 17 year olds will be contacted directly.
If you are within 3 months of turning 18, you will be invited directly to book your appointments via the national booking service at the appropriate time and may also be invited via local vaccination services.

The JCVI has reviewed extensive clinical evidence for the safety of giving the COVID-19 vaccine to children and young people in the eligible groups and have determined it to be safe and effective. The JCVI has determined that the benefit of vaccinating children in these groups outweighs the risks.

Appointments can be booked on the NHS website or call 119. You can also call our patient helpline – 0344 257 3961 – if you need help to book your vaccination appointment.

If you already have an appointment over the coming weeks, whether for your first or second dose, this remains in place and it’s really important that you attend it as planned.

This offer remains on the table, so if you are in these groups and haven’t take it up yet, there is still time.

https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-and-womens-health/covid-19-vaccines-and-pregnancy/covid-19-vaccines-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding/

New guidance has been issued for the use of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. This follows further reviews by the independent regulator, the MHRA, and the Commission for Human Medicines, of a very small number of people in the UK who have developed a rare blood-clotting condition since having the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. The MHRA and Joint Committee for Vaccinations and Immunisations have emphasised that the risk of this condition is extremely small and that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people. They have recommended that:

• Everyone who has had the AstraZeneca vaccine should still have a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, irrespective of age, unless they have had a blood clot or have an existing risk of thrombosis (blood clotting)
• People aged 30 and over or who have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe Covid-19 disease should still be offered the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. The benefits in protecting them against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition.
• People aged 18-29 who do not have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe Covid-19 disease will be offered an alternative Covid-19 vaccine where available. (This has been recommended as a precaution as people under 30 are at less risk from Covid-19 and not because they are considered to be at particular risk of developing the rare blood clot.)
• People under 30 can still choose to have the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine if this will mean they can be protected more quickly and they have been made aware of the guidance.

Please see the leaflet below that has been produced by Public Health England and the NHS to answer any questions you may have

Leaflet on COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting

HSCW Examples – Entitled to a vaccination

• Acute Hospital (NHS)
• Art Therapists (AHP)
• Care & Nursing Home staff
• Carers (Paid) & Personal Assistants
• CHC Provider
• Chiropodists / Podiatrist (AHP)
• Dentist
• Dietitians (AHP)
• Drama therapists (AHP)
• Domiciliary Care
• Drug and Alcohol Services
• Funeral Home
• Frontline funeral operatives
• GP staff
• Health Visitors
• Home Care
• Housing (specialist)
• Hospice
• Laboratory staff
• LD Care Home
• LD Service
• Mental Health (incl. Independent)
• Mortuary Staff
• Music Therapists (AHP)
• Nuero Service
• Operating Department Practitioners (AHP)
• Occupational Therapy
• Optoms
• Orthoptists (AHP)
• Osteopath (AHP)
• Outreach Services
• Paramedic (AHP)
• Pharmacy
• Prosthetists and Orthotists (AHP)
• Physiotherapist
• School Nurses
• Private Hospital
• Radiographers (AHP)
• Sexual Health
• Sheltered Accommodation / Extra Care
• Social Workers
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Transport providers (e.g., ambulance)
• VCSE

Occupational Worker Examples – Not eligible for a vaccination

• Police
• First responders
• Police Specials
• Custody staff
• Fire Service
• Military Personnel (non-clinical)
• Justice system employees
• Legal advisors
• Court clerks / ushers
• Magistrates
• Court security
• Offender transport providers
• Crown Court
• Magistrates Courts
• Interpreters
• Education Staff
• Schools: Primary & Secondary – State, Academy and Independent
• Special Units and PRUs
• Alternative Provision
• Closed Route Transport Providers
• Road Crossing Staff
• College and Sixth Forms
• Nursery / pre-school
• Pre-Schools and Nurseries
• Breakfast and After School Clubs
• Transport workers
• Train
• Bus
• Taxi
• Public servants
• Housing Officers
• Contact centre staff
• Refuse workers
• Retail workers
• Supermarkets
• Essential retail
• Post office workers

The uptake has improved enormously. It is estimated at least three quarters plus of people are confidently saying they will have the vaccination compared to lower numbers previously reported.

We do not know how long that protection will last – scientists are learning that at this time. We do know that within about three weeks with the Pfizer vaccine the level of protection is at 90%.

Having your vaccination is not a reason to change behaviour – you still need to follow the government’s stay at home rule as well as the Hands, Face, Space. Those people who have been vaccinated can still pass on the virus to someone else. Although these vaccines are highly effective, safe and provide good protection, we all have to follow the public health advice.

Yes. 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 does not offer any COVID-19 vaccinations to the public unless it is approved as safe and effective by the UK regulator.  The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the official UK regulator authorising licensed use of medicines and vaccines by healthcare professionals, make this decision for each potential vaccine, and we have full confidence in their expert judgement and processes.

The global crisis that is COVID-19 has meant that we have been able to recruit patients to be involved in testing the vaccine much more quickly than would normally be the case.

Scientists had already been working on vaccines against the SARS group of viruses, of which COVID-19 is just one, for many years, so we were not starting from nothing.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that has been approved for use in the UK has met very strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness set out by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

None of the other vaccines under development will be available to the NHS until they have passed those same strict standards, which apply to every vaccine the NHS uses.

So far, thousands of people have been given a COVID-19 vaccine, and reports of serious side effects like allergic reactions have been very rare.

You should not have the vaccine if you’ve ever had a serious allergic reaction to medicines, vaccines or food.

Medicines including vaccines are highly regulated – and that is no different for the approved COVID-19 vaccines. There a number of enablers that have made this ground-breaking medical advancement possible and why it was possible to develop them relatively quickly compared to other medicines;

The different phases of the clinical trial were delivered to overlap instead of run sequentially which sped up the clinical process;
There was a rolling assessment of data packages as soon as they were available so experts at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency could review as the trial was being delivered, ask questions along the way and request extra information as needed – as opposed to getting all information at the end of a trial;

Clinical trials managed to recruit people very quickly as a global effort meant thousands of people were willing to volunteer.

For both vaccines trial participants included a range of those from various ages, immune-compromised and those with underlying health conditions, and both found the efficacy of the vaccine translates through all the subgroups. Details of trial participants for both vaccines are published online. For the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine information is available here (opens in a new window). For the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine information is available here (opens in a new window).

The Public Assessment Reports contain all the scientific information about the trials and information on trial participants. For the Pfizer trial, participants included 9.6% black/African, 26.1% Hispanic/Latino and 3.4% Asian. For the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine 10.1% of trail recipients were Black and 3.5% Asian. There is no evidence either of the vaccines will work differently in different ethnic groups.

There’s no evidence the COVID-19 vaccine is unsafe if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. But more evidence is needed before you can be routinely offered the vaccine.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has updated its advice to recommend you may be able to have the vaccine if you’re:

• pregnant and at high risk of serious complications of coronavirus
• if you’re breastfeeding

Speak to a healthcare professional before you have the vaccination. They will discuss the benefits and risks of the COVID-19 vaccine with you.

You do not need to avoid pregnancy after vaccination. The vaccine cannot give you or your baby COVID-19.

Read the latest COVID-19 vaccine advice if you’re pregnant, may get pregnant or are breastfeeding on GOV.UK

The phase three study of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated a vaccine efficacy of 95%, with consistent efficacy across age, gender and ethnicity. For the Pfizer trial, participants included 9.6% black/African, 26.1% Hispanic/Latino and 3.4% Asian.

We will need to see the final clinical evidence from trials on this. The important point for any vaccine is whether the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approve it for use – if it does then that means it’s a worthwhile vaccine to have and people should have it if they are eligible. The Government has in principle secured access to six different vaccine candidates, including the now approved BioNTech/Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines. The results seen for all the vaccine candidates so far have been very encouraging and if borne out by final assessments would each be classed as being very effective.

The vaccines that the NHS uses and in what circumstances will be decided by t Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Both vaccines are classed as being very effective. The Oxford/AstraZeneca is easier to store and transport, meaning we can deliver them in more places, and we expect to have more doses available as they are manufactured in the UK, so we would expect that most people are likely to receive this vaccine over the coming weeks and months.

The NHS has begun vaccinating the priority cohorts. When we get more vaccine supplies this will potentially allow us to go further and faster, but we are not there yet.

The NHS will only deploy vaccines which the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) decide – after extensive assessment – are safe and effective. The MHRA’s assessment of the Moderna vaccine is ongoing. The Government have provisionally ordered several million doses of this vaccine if it is approved, but we don’t expect Moderna to be able to make these available until Spring 2021.

As will all vaccinations and medicines, patient safety is the NHS number one priority. Public Health England have robust systems in place to monitor surveillance and will be following incident reporting protocols in the usual way.

The vaccine is very well tolerated with reported side effects similar to the flu jab – soreness or redness at the injection site and some have reported a headache. Further detail on side effects can be found in the leaflets below.

Since the vaccination programme began in early December, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has been notified of two reports of anaphylaxis, and a further possible allergic reaction, shortly after receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The individuals received prompt treatment and recovered.

Incidents such as these are common with new vaccines and the MHRA has tried and tested processes to deal with them. The public can be reassured that we continue to adhere to the highest standards of safety as we provide this life-saving vaccine to those who need it most. Individuals should not get the vaccine if they have had a severe allergic reaction to any of the vaccine ingredients.

Tell healthcare staff before you are vaccinated if you’ve ever had a serious allergic reaction. They will be able to advise you on the best thing to do. You should not have the COVID-19 vaccine if you have ever had a serious allergic reaction (including anaphylaxis) to:

• a previous dose of the same vaccine
• any of the ingredients in the vaccine

Serious allergic reactions are rare. If you do have a reaction to the vaccine, it usually happens in minutes. Staff giving the vaccine are trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.

It is important that anyone unsure about taking a particular type of vaccine should discuss it with their GP.

These are important details which the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will consider when assessing candidate vaccines for use. NHSE plans currently include provision for monitoring patients immediately after their dose is administered, and all patients will be provided with information on the vaccine they have received, how to look out for any side effects, and what to do if they do occur, including reporting them to the MHRA.

There is no material of animal origin in either vaccine. All ingredients are published in healthcare information on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s website.

For the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine information is available online.

For the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca.

For the Moderna vaccine information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine-moderna

Information on the vaccine ingredients have been provided by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. A full list of ingredients for the qualitative and quantitative composition of the vaccine and a full list of the excipient composition of the vaccine can be found at point 6 in the Information for Recipients of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.

No. The vaccines are designed to produce an immune response to just a small part of the virus, the spike protein. This is the part of the virus that allows it to enter into human cells and cause infection. No whole COVID-19 virus or live virus is used in the vaccines. This means the vaccine cannot give you COVID-19 and does not make you infectious after you have had the vaccine. This means it is also safe for people with a suppressed immune system.

One dose of the vaccine offers important protection, at least in the short term. Updated guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended that as many people on the JCVI priority list should be offered a first vaccine dose as the initial priority. It is vital that you continue to adhere to social distancing, mask guidelines and practice good hand hygiene. No vaccine is 100% effective so it is also important for you to continue to follow any government or workplace advice even after you have completed the vaccination course.

The latest evidence suggests the 1st dose of the COVID-19 vaccine provides protection for most people for up to 3 months. As a result of this evidence, when you can have the 2nd dose has changed. This is also to make sure as many people can have the vaccine as possible.

To ensure as many people are vaccinated as quickly as possible, the Department for Health and Social Care now advise that the second dose of both the Oxford/AstraZeneca and the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine should be scheduled up to 12 weeks apart.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said these vaccines are highly effective, but to get full protection people need to come back for the second dose – this is really important.

Both vaccines have been authorised on the basis of two doses because the evidence from the clinical trials shows that this gives the maximum level of protection.

The evidence doesn’t show any risk to not having the second dose other than not being as protected as you otherwise would be. We would urge everyone to show up for both of their appointments for their own protection as well as to ensure we don’t waste vaccines or the time of NHS staff.

​​​​​​​The flu vaccine does not protect you from Covid-19. As you are eligible for both vaccines you should have them both, but normally separated by at least a week.

No, the COVID-19 vaccine will not protect you against the flu. If you have been offered a flu vaccine, please try to have this as soon as possible to help protect you, your family and patients from flu this winter.

There is no evidence currently that the new strains will be resistant to the vaccine 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 vaccine. Viruses, such as the winter flu virus, often branch into different strains but these small variations rarely render vaccines ineffective.

You should not have the vaccine if you have had confirmed COVID-19 infection in the previous 28 days unless you are advised by your doctor that it is suitable for you to do so.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation set criteria on an ongoing basis for who should get the vaccine when. GPs will be able to call in or go out to patients based on this, using their patient records. A national invite and recall system, drawn from GP patient records, may also be used.

Not at this stage unless they fall into one of the priority groups. The priority groups are reviewed by the Not at this stage unless they fall into one of the priority groups. The priority groups are reviewed by the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisations and, if it is deemed necessary, other groups may also be invited for a vaccination and, if it is deemed necessary, other groups may also be invited for a vaccination.

There’s no evidence the COVID-19 vaccine is unsafe if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. But more evidence is needed before you can be routinely offered the vaccine.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has updated its advice to recommend you may be able to have the vaccine if you’re:

• pregnant and at high risk of serious complications of coronavirus
• if you’re breastfeeding

Speak to a healthcare professional before you have the vaccination. They will discuss the benefits and risks of the COVID-19 vaccine with you.

You do not need to avoid pregnancy after vaccination. The vaccine cannot give you or your baby COVID-19.

Read the latest COVID-19 vaccine advice if you’re pregnant, may get pregnant or are breastfeeding on GOV.UK.

There is clear evidence that certain Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups have higher rates of infection, and higher rates of serious disease, morbidity and mortality. There is no strong evidence that ethnicity by itself (or genetics) is the sole explanation for observed differences in rates of severe illness and deaths. Certain health conditions are associated with increased risk of serious disease, and these health conditions are often overrepresented in certain black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. Societal factors, such as occupation, household size, deprivation, and access to healthcare can increase susceptibility to COVID-19 and worsen outcomes following infection. Prioritisation of persons with underlying health conditions will also provide for greater vaccination of BAME communities who are disproportionately affected by such health conditions.

The advice is for NHS England and NHS Improvement, the Department of Health and Social Care, Public Health England and the devolved administrations to work together to ensure that inequalities are identified and addressed in implementation. This could be through culturally competent and tailored communications and flexible models of delivery, aimed at ensuring everything possible is done to promote good uptake in black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and in groups who may experience inequalities in access to, or engagement with, healthcare services. These tailored implementation measures should be applied across all priority groups during the vaccination programme.

Yes, if they are in a priority group identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. We don’t yet know how long immunity lasts after having been infected with COVID-19, so getting vaccinated is just as important for those who have already had it as it is for those who haven’t.

Yes; it is unclear how long antibodies produced following infection may provide protection and whether the protection is as effective as that provided by vaccination. It is therefore recommended you have a vaccine if offered one.

Can people pick which vaccine they want?

Any vaccines that are available will have been approved by the medicine regulatory authorities so you should be assured that whatever vaccine you are offered, it is safe and effective.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommends to NHS England and Improvement the priority cohorts of people to receive the vaccination. It is then up to the local Primary Care Networks to decide which of their patients within the cohort should be invited to receive their vaccination. Patients over 80 are not then reprioritised within their cohort.

We would ask local people to remain patient and not to contact their local practice or PCN asking for a vaccination appointment at this time. Everyone will receive their vaccination and no one will be forgotten. Our system is working extremely hard to ensure everyone gets vaccinated as quickly as possible.

The COVID-19 vaccines will become available as they are approved for use and as each batch is manufactured.

So every dose is needed to protect those at highest risk. You will be called in as soon as there is enough vaccine available. Some people who are housebound or live in a care home and who can’t get to a local vaccination centre may have to wait for supply of the right type of vaccine. This is because only some vaccines can be transported between people’s homes.

Vaccines will be offered in a range of settings. Some vaccination teams will visit people to offer the vaccine, for example in care homes, other people may have to go to the nearest centre. Because some of the vaccine has to be stored in a very low temperature freezer, you may not be able to get the vaccine in your normal GP surgery.

Please try to attend the vaccination centre you are offered. If you cannot attend that centre you may have to wait to get the vaccine in a more convenient location.

No, the COVID-19 vaccination is only available through the NHS to eligible groups and it is a free vaccination.

• a blood cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma)
• diabetes
• dementia
• a heart problem
• a chest complaint or breathing diffculties, including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma
• a kidney disease
• a liver disease
• lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as HIV infection, steroid medication, chemotherapy or radiotherapy)
• rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or psoriasis
• have had an organ transplant
• had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• a neurological or muscle wasting condition
• a severe or profound learning disability
• a problem with your spleen, eg sickle cell disease, or you have had your spleen removed
• are seriously overweight (BMI of 40 and above)
• are severely mentally ill

At the same time the vaccine will also be offered to:

• adults who provide regular care for an elderly or disabled person
• younger adults in long stay nursing and residential settings

In some areas of the system, there have been instances of the over 70s receiving their vaccine before the over 80s age group – in line with the national policy. This would happen if there were no further people aged over 80 booked for a vaccination on a particular day or if we had a surplus supply of vaccine. If this instance occurred, people in the next age group would be invited in order to ensure no wastage of the vaccine. Moving towards this more flexible approach across the first four cohorts will support our achievement of a vaccination offer to all priority individuals by mid February. It will also reduce inequality of access and maximise pace.

All front line staff will be offered the vaccine. Local prioritisation has been agreed by local organisations to ensure those most at risk and caring for the most at risk patients are offered first. If you are a health or social care worker and cannot receive the vaccine at your place of work, alternative options will be offered. Please discuss with your line manager.

There are no plans for a COVID-19 vaccine to be compulsory. Just as with the winter flu vaccine, local NHS employers will be working hard to ensure 100% of staff are able to get vaccinated, and that any concerns that staff have are answered. We are confident that the vast majority of our staff – as they do every year for the flu vaccine – will choose to protect themselves and their patients by getting the vaccine.

The vaccine is given by injection into the arm or shoulder.

You will need two doses of the vaccine to gain the maximum protection. These doses will be given three to twelve weeks apart. One dose of the vaccine offers important protection, at least in the short term. Updated guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended that as many people on the JCVI priority list should be offered a first vaccine dose as the initial priority. You will need to attend two appointments to receive both doses. If you do not have both doses the vaccine will not be fully effective.

No. You should not have your flu jab either a minimum of 7 days before the first COVID-19 vaccination dose or 7 days after you have had the second dose.

No. You are not required to have a test prior to your vaccination, however if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 infection you must follow government guidelines and must not attend the appointment. You should follow advice you have been given to re-book your appointment.

Not at this time.

The Government has secured access to six different vaccine candidates, across four different vaccine types, totalling over 350 million doses. This includes:

BioNTech/Pfizer BioNTech alliance – phase 3 clinical trials (40m doses)
University of Oxford/AstraZeneca partnership – phase 3 clinical trials (100m doses)
Moderna (7m doses)

Now the Pfizer BionTech and Oxford Astrazeneca have both been approved, enough doses will be available for everyone who wants one. However, we won’t have all of these doses immediately. The speed of vaccination will be subject to supply – but the UK expects to have received tens of millions of doses of vaccine by Easter. This is going to be a long-term programme.

Over the coming weeks and as more supplies are available, vaccination appointments will continue to be rolled out to other patient-facing health and care staff as per the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s guidance.

Ideally vaccination should be deferred until clinical recovery – around four weeks after the onset of symptoms or four weeks from the first confirmed positive specimen in those who are asymptomatic. There is no evidence of any safety concerns from vaccinating individuals with a past history of COVID-19 infection, or with detectable COVID-19 antibody. Having prolonged COVID-19 symptoms is not a contraindication to receiving COVID-19 vaccine. See Green Book Ch. 14a p. 15.

Individuals who are self-isolating should not attend a vaccine appointment. See COVID-19 vaccination: guide for older adults.

People may still become infected after vaccination, although they should be less likely to develop severe illness. The individual will still need to follow the guidance in their workplace, including wearing the correct personal protection equipment and taking part in any testing programmes. See COVID-19 vaccination: guide for healthcare workers.

People may still become infected even after vaccination. Any individual displaying symptoms of COVID-19 symptoms should self-isolate and arrange to be tested.

When it is the right time people will receive an invitation to come forward. For most people this will be in the form of a letter either from their GP or the national booking system; this will include all the information they need to book their appointments, including their NHS number.

The NHS will contact you when it’s your turn to have the vaccine, so please do not contact the NHS for a vaccination before then. Please act on your invite when it comes, and make sure you attend your appointments when you arrange them

The NHS has been working together with local partners to ensure that people are not disadvantaged because of where they live, whether they own a car or if they are not able to get about. This is why the NHS has developed three different models of delivery.

NHS Trusts will provide Hospital Hubs where vaccines can be safely stored and those in the highest priority groups can be vaccinated.
Vaccination Centres will be opening in the near future which will provide vaccination on a large scale. These sites will be in well-connected public venues.

GPs and Pharmacies will also provide vaccination services locally in the community.

Click here to view the locations of Primary Care Network vaccinations centres across Suffolk and North East Essex.

Additional sites will be announced in due course.

They will vaccinate people according to the current priority schedule which includes elderly vulnerable people aged 80 or over and health and care staff.

Other cohorts of people, as identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which determines the priority groups and schedule, will be contacted to receive their vaccination in due course.

If you are unable to get to the hospital vaccination hub you will still be offered the vaccination, possibly in your own home, on another date by your primary care provider.

Patients that have no other means of transport may be eligible for Community Transport schemes. Community transport is the term given to passenger transport schemes that are outside the usual travel options. These schemes help people who are rurally isolated or not easily able to access conventional public transport or with restricted mobility.

Please click here for more information about community transport

Our hospital vaccination hubs are safe and COVID secure. Any person needing to come to hospital should attend if they possibly can. Those attending for their appointment must wear a mask and observe social distance guidelines.

If you have your vaccination at a GP surgery, it will be given by the doctor or the practice nurse.
At Vaccination Centres, the vaccine will either be given by specially trained staff – either existing staff or those recruited specifically for the programme. There are a number of roles within the vaccination programme and these will require different levels of qualifications and experience.

Public Health England have compiled comprehensive training including injection administration, training on vaccines in general and the specific ones that will be used, and all the mandatory training NHS have to do. Locally, vaccinators will have inductions and orientation and importantly new vaccinators will be supervised and assessed by senior clinicians to ensure both their safety and of course the safety of the people they are vaccinating – just like any other vaccinator.

Our planning will ensure that there is as little as possible impact on other vital services by drawing on a pool of experienced NHS professionals through the NHS Bring Back Scheme, recruiting new vaccinators from amongst a wider group of healthcare professionals and others who complete training, and using independent Occupational Health providers.

Each vaccination site has been carefully selected and approved by a chief pharmacist, senior nurse and a primary care lead with a GP Clinical Lead. They are assessed on a number of criteria, including ease of access for the local population, disability access, the actual facilities themselves at each venue and whether there is adequate space to allow for the two metre distancing rule. Whilst the site might not be your usual GP surgery, it is part of your local ‘Primary Care Network’ that has come together to vaccinate the population during the pandemic. It is possible that new vaccination locations will be added as the vaccination programme develops.

No. While the vaccination prevents the development of the infection in around 90-95% of people, there is still a chance of contracting the virus or transmission to others. It is therefore very important to continue wearing a mask, social distancing and practicing good hand hygiene.

We expect these vaccines to work for at least a year – if not longer. This will be constantly monitored.
COVID-19 remains a new infection and close observation by experts continues. At this stage it is unclear whether the vaccine will need to given yearly, like the flu vaccine, or less frequently.
Trials for length of vaccine protection continue and will also inform how vaccination for COVID-19 is recommended in the future.

The supply of vaccination wasn’t inadequate but the delivery schedule is out of local control– our clinical teams have invited all of the people who are in the first four priority cohorts.

North East Essex determines the supply of vaccination to each system.

We are not aware of other centres operating well below capacity but all centres are subject to potential supply issues

No, it definitely doesn’t. The content of the Covid vaccines does not go anywhere near our own genetic material and has no ability to change it or us.

No, it doesn’t contain either human or animal products (so no porcine content either).

Taking flu first: the flu vaccination used in our country does not contain live virus, so it does not – and cannot – give anyone flu.

If people do feel a bit under the weather after a flu jab it is because their own immune system is kicking in after the vaccination. Sometimes, if people catch a cold at the same as their vaccination they think it is due to the vaccine, but it isn’t – it’s just a coincidence.

The Covid vaccination does not contain the actual virus, so it’s physically impossible to catch the disease from it.

No, you won’t, it is by choice. If you decide against it you would need to be aware that you are at greater risk of the virus and of passing it on.

No, trials did include people from ethnic minority backgrounds. The vaccine producers did make a call for more volunteers recently so that the study matched vulnerable groups – just like they did with the over 65s too.

The COVID-19 vaccine will always be available free of charge. The NHS will never ask you to share bank details to confirm your identity or pay for a vaccine.

https://britishima.org/operation-vaccination/hub/covidmyths/

The RCOG and the RCM respond to misinformation around Covid-19 vaccine and fertility