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COVID Vaccination Programme

GET YOUR BOOSTER NOW or book your 1st or 2nd dose.

For the NHS national booking system click here

For information on local walk in clinics please click here 

NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

This page contains the latest information and advice for residents about:

Who Can Currently Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Everyone aged 5 and over can get a 1st and 2nd dose of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.

If you have not booked your appointments yet, you're still eligible and can book anytime.

  • If you've had a positive COVID-19 test, you need to wait before getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • People aged 18 and over, and children and young people aged 5 to 17 at high risk from COVID-19, need to wait 4 weeks.
  • Children and young people aged 5 to 17 who are not at high risk from COVID-19 need to wait 12 weeks.
  • If you or your child have symptoms of COVID-19, but have not had a test, you should wait until your symptoms are better before you get the vaccine. You can talk to a healthcare professional at the vaccination site about this.

Who can currently receive the COVID Booster vaccination. 

There are 3 types of booster for the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine:

  • A booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is available for everyone aged 16 and over, and some children aged 12 to 15, who have had a 2nd dose of the vaccine at least 3 months ago.
  • A booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is available for anyone who had a severely weakened immune system when they had their first 2 doses and who had an additional primary dose (3rd dose) of the vaccine at least 3 months ago.
  • A spring booster of the COVID-19 vaccine is available to people aged 75 and over, people who live in a care home for older people, or people aged 12 and over who have a weakened immune system.

If you have not had a booster dose yet, you're still eligible and can book anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Are there side effects?

Most side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are mild and should not last longer than a week, such as:

  • A sore arm where the needle went in
  • Feeling tired
  • A headache
  • Feeling achy
  • Feeling or being sick

You can take painkillers, such as paracetamol, if you need to.

If you have a high temperature you may have coronavirus or another infection. If your symptoms get worse or you are worried, call or go online to NHS 111.

You can report any suspected side effect using the Coronavirus Yellow Card safety scheme.

Allergic reactions

Tell healthcare staff before you are vaccinated if you've ever had a serious allergic reaction. In some circumstances, your GP might make arrangements for you to have your vaccination in an hospital setting

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.

Are the vaccines safe for pregnant women, breastfeeding women and for those women who are wishing to conceive?

The latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is that COVID-19 vaccines should be offered to pregnant women at the same time as the rest of the population, based on their age and clinical risk group. There have been no specific safety concerns identified with any brand of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines in relation to pregnancy.

Women should discuss the benefits and risks of having the vaccine with their healthcare professional and reach a joint decision based on individual circumstances. Women should not stop breastfeeding in order to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Women trying to become pregnant do not need to avoid pregnancy after vaccination and there is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines will affect fertility.

Find out more in the Questions and Answers from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists here 

Does the vaccine affect fertility?

There is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines will affect fertility. There is more information in the Questions and Answers from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists here 

Second COVID Vaccine

It is important that you have both doses of your vaccine to ensure you have the maximum level of protection from Coronavirus.

 

Staying Safe and Avoiding Scams

The COVID-19 vaccine will always be free in the UK and delivered by the NHS. Patients will be sent a letter by the NHS call/recall service informing them of their eligibility, and receive a call from Primary Care Networks, offering the choice of booking at a GP-led vaccination centre or using the national booking service.

For more information and advice, please visit Action Fraud

BBC Asian Network is helping people in the South Asian community to spot potential scams, with advice videos in five South Asian languages: Urdu, Punjabi, Sylheti, Tamil and Gujarati.

Vaccine Information and Resources

If you have any questions about the NHS COVID Vaccination Programme, please speak to a trusted person, such as your GP, or visit the NHS website. 

Alternatively, please contact partnerships@threerivers.gov.uk with your questions and enquiries. 

Please follow Three Rivers on our social media pages for links for more useful information such as COVID-19 webinars, local campaigns and programmes etc.

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Vaccine Information in Community Languages

To help reach all communities NHS staff explain how the vaccine is given, and give clear evidence that the vaccines work and are safe. It is hoped that the videos will be shared among friends, families, faith and community groups via WhatsApp, text message and on social media. You can view the script in English and download the videos via the links below.

View all of the videos and more COVID-19 information in community languages by clicking here.