Covid-19
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines are safe and effective and have been proven to reduce hospitalisations and severe illness. They give you the best protection against COVID-19.
Seasonal COVID-19 vaccine
You may be able to get a seasonal COVID-19 vaccine in autumn 2023 if you’re at increased risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19. For example, this may be due to a health condition or your age. Those who are eligible include:
- Residents in a care home for older adults
- All adults aged 65 years and over
- Persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as laid out in the Immunisation Green Book, COVID-19 Chapter (Green Book)
- Frontline health and social care workers
- Persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts (as defined in the Green Book) of people with immunosuppression
- Persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers (as defined in the Green Book) and staff working in care homes for older adults.
The NHS will contact you if your NHS record suggests you may be eligible. Those most at risk including adult care home residents will start to be vaccinated from 11 September 2023. From 18 September, the NHS will start to invite people in priority order of risk and those eligible will be able to book an appointment on the National Booking Service.
When available, there may be different ways you can get a COVID-19 seasonal vaccine:
- booking online or via 119
- going to a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site
- a local NHS service, such as a vaccine centre, GP surgery or pharmacy
- through your care home
In June, the NHS started offering Covid-19 vaccinations for children aged between 6 months to 4 years who are at increased risk from Covid-19 due to certain medical conditions, in line with expert advice from JCVI. This offer also remains open beyond 30 June to eligible children.
If your child is eligible, they will be invited by your local NHS services, for example through your GP or Consultant. They will then make a referral to the Covid-19 Vaccination team. Your child will be offered two vaccinations at least 8 weeks apart to provide greater protection. If you have any queries or have not been contacted speak to you child’s Consultant/GP for more information.
If you develop a new health condition or start treatment that severely weakens your immune system, you may need additional protection before autumn 2023.
Your consultant or GP will assess whether you need an additional vaccine. They will make a referral to the Covid-19 Vaccination team and advise on the best timing for vaccination around your planned treatment. Speak to your Consultant/GP for more information.