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Home » Your Health » Health Campaigns » COVID-19 vaccinations » COVID-19 vaccine – frequently asked questions

COVID-19 vaccine – frequently asked questions

Getting your vaccination

How can I get a vaccination?

You can book appointments for first and second doses or boosters online via the national booking service or by calling 119. You can also attend a walk in service. Please be aware that some walk-in centres are unable to offer the full range of vaccinations, so you should check the details carefully before attending.

Can I walk into a service to get a vaccination?

Vaccinations are available at a number of walk-in clinics in Kirklees. For details of centres offering walk-in jabs, please visit the NHS site finder. Some walk-in centres are unable to offer the full range of vaccinations, so check the details carefully before attending.

Can I get the vaccine privately?

No. Vaccinations are only available through the NHS, free of charge. 

Can I have my second vaccination early so I can go on holiday?

No. Second doses should not be offered earlier than eight weeks unless there is a clinical reason, for example, a patient with planned immunosuppressive therapy. Second vaccinations cannot be brought forward for non-clinical reasons, such as going on holiday or travelling abroad.

Who can get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Details about who can get a vaccination are available on the NHS website.

I haven’t yet had the COVID-19 vaccination, can I still get my first jabs?

Yes, you can still get your first or second vaccination if you haven’t had yours yet.  

Do I have to be registered with a GP to get a COVID-19 vaccination?

No. Anyone can get a vaccine, even if they do not have an NHS number or are not registered with a GP.

Children and young people

Who can get the vaccine?

The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines are safe and effective. 2 doses are being offered to children aged 5 to 15 to give them the best protection against COVID-19.

Why are children being offered the vaccine?

COVID-19 is usually mild in most children, but it can make some children unwell.

1 dose of the COVID-19 vaccine gives good protection against your child getting seriously ill. But 2 doses gives stronger and longer-lasting protection against future COVID-19 variants.

Vaccinating children can reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection to your child and those around them.

Where can I get more information about vaccinating children and young people?

The NHS website has further details about the COVID-19 vaccination for children and young people. This includes information on where and how to book an appointment.

The information below may also be useful:

5-11 year olds FAQs

Dr Bnar Talabani explains why children are being offered the vaccine

COVID-19 vaccination: a guide for parents of children aged 5 to 11

JCVI statement on vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years old

COVID-19 vaccination: resources for people aged 12 – 17 years old

COVID-19 vaccination: easy read resources for children and young people

COVID-19 vaccination consent form for parents

Booster vaccinations

What is a booster vaccination?

There are 3 types of COVID-19 booster vaccine:

  • A 1st 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 (4th 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 a 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.

How do I get my COVID-19 booster?

You can find more information about COVID-19 boosters including who is eligible, how they are being delivered, and how to book an appointment on the NHS website.

Can I have my flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster at the same time?

It is safe to have these at the same time. However, it may not be possible to get them together so you should have each vaccination as soon as it is offered rather than waiting to try to get them at the same time.

Which vaccines are used for COVID-19 boosters?

People will normally be given the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for their booster.

If you are not able to have either of these vaccines, eg due to a severe allergy, it may be possible for you to have the AstraZeneca vaccine instead.

Pregnancy and vaccination

Can I have the vaccine if I am pregnant?

The Joint Committee on Vaccine Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that pregnant women should be prioritised for vaccination alongside other groups at high risk from COVID-19.

This is because latest evidence shows that pregnant women are at increased risk of severe effects of COVID-19 infection – especially in the last three months of their pregnancy – and it can increase the risk of premature labour and stillbirth.

Like most adults, pregnant women should have two doses 8 weeks apart, followed by a booster vaccination 3 months after their second dose. The recommended vaccines in pregnancy are Pfizer or Moderna.

If you’re pregnant, you can book your vaccination online using the National Booking System or visit a convenient walk-in centre where you will be prioritised to avoid you having to queue.

If you have any questions or concerns about getting the jab, please discuss these with your midwife or GP. You may also find the information below helpful.

You may find the following information useful:

GOV.UK: COVID-19 vaccination – a guide on pregnancy & breastfeeding

Is it safe to try to get pregnant after having the vaccine?

There is no need to delay pregnancy after having the vaccination.

Can the vaccine affect fertility?

Medical experts agree that it is not possible for the vaccines to affect fertility. Like all vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccine teaches your body to fight the disease. It does not have any ingredients that would affect fertility and the components leave the body within a few days.

About the vaccine

Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?  

The vaccines approved for use in the UK have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness set out by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Any coronavirus vaccine that is approved must go through all the clinical trials and safety checks all other licensed medicines go through. The MHRA follows international standards of safety.

So far, millions of people have had a COVID-19 vaccine and reports of serious side effects, such as allergic reactions or clotting problems, have been very rare.

To find out more about the vaccines approved in the UK, visit the following websites:

What ingredients are in the COVID-19 vaccine?

The approved COVID-19 vaccines do not contain any animal products or egg.

There is no material of foetal or animal origin in the vaccines.

Read details about the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and its ingredients.

Read details about the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and its ingredients.

Read details about the Moderna vaccine and its ingredients.

Guidance on Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine for people under 40 years

The Joint Committee for Vaccinations and Immunisations (JVCI) has updated its guidance for the use of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. It has recommended that people under 40 are offered an alternative vaccination where available and where this will not cause delays to people having the vaccine.

This follows ongoing reviews by the independent regulator, the MHRA, 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. Both the JCVI and MHRA have emphasised that the risk is extremely small – just over 10 people in every million have developed this condition – and that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people.

More information is available in this leaflet about COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting.

I’m worried that I may have had the Covishield vaccine so not be able to travel to Europe

The government has confirmed that no Covishield vaccines have been administered in the UK.  All AstraZeneca vaccines given in the UK are the same product and appear on the NHS COVID Pass as Vaxzevria. The European Medicines Agency has authorised this brand of the vaccine and it is therefore recognised by the European Union.

The confusion arose because the AstraZeneca vaccine is manufactured under different commercial names and licences. Although this is the same vaccine, each licence has to be approved separately by the relevant authority in each country. The Covishield licence has not yet been authorised by the UK regulator, the MHRA, or the European Medicines Agency so this is why it is not used in the UK or accepted for travel to the EU.

Some batch numbers of the Vaxiveria vaccines were mistakenly listed as being Covishield by the Maltese authorities, which led to some people being refused entry to Malta. The government has confirmed that Malta has now amended their travel advice and that the NHS Covid Pass will be accepted as valid evidence for entry. This is set out on the Maltese government’s website at https://foreignandeu.gov.mt/en/Pages/Travel-Advice.aspx)

Information on how to get an online or paper version of the NHS COVID Pass is available on the NHS website.

Can people pick what vaccine they have? 

You cannot usually choose which vaccine you have. When you book, you’ll only be offered an appointments for a vaccine that is suitable for you.

Most people can have any of the COVID-19 vaccines, but some people are only offered certain vaccines.

For example, if you’re pregnant or under 40 you’ll usually only be offered appointments for the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.

You should have the same vaccine for both doses, unless you had serious side effects (such as a serious allergic reaction) after your 1st dose.

Should people who have had COVID-19 be vaccinated?

Yes, they should get vaccinated.

People currently unwell and experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should not receive the COVID-19 vaccine until they have recovered. The guidance says this should be at least four weeks after the start of symptoms or from the date of a positive COVID-19 test.

Are there any people who shouldn’t have the vaccine?

People with history of a severe allergy to the ingredients in the vaccines should not be vaccinated.

Can I have a COVID-19 vaccination if I have an allergy?

Most people with allergies (including food or penicillin allergies) can be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Before you are vaccinated, healthcare staff will check if you have ever had a serious allergic reaction (including anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the same vaccine or any of the ingredients in the vaccine to make sure it is safe for you to have it.

Serious allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines are very rare. If you do have a reaction, it usually happens in minutes. Staff giving the vaccine are trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.

More information about COVID-19 vaccine safety and side effects are on the NHS website.

Will the vaccine work with the new strains?

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

The national booking service

How do I contact the national booking service?

You can book an appointment online via the NHS national booking service .  

If you are not able to book online you can call  119  free of charge, between 7am and 11pm seven days a week. 

What information will I need to book a vaccination appointment?

To book online you will need to provide your name, date of birth, postcode and your NHS number, which will be included on your invitation letter or other NHS correspondence.

If you have lost your letter or don’t have your NHS number, please use the telephone booking service by calling 119. You may need to provide the name and postcode of your GP practice.

Does the national booking service work for people who don’t understand English or are deaf?

The phone line has interpreters and a BSL facility available on request to help you book your appointments.

Can I cancel or re-arrange my appointment?

If you need to re-arrange an appointment that you booked through the NHS website, you can do this through the ‘manage your appointments’ section on the website booking page. If you booked through 119, you can ring the same number to rearrange your appointment.

If you can’t attend your appointment for any reason, please cancel or re-arrange it so that the appointment slot can be given to someone else who needs it.

Other questions and information

How do I get a COVID Pass?

You can get an NHS COVID Pass digitally through the NHS App or the online NHS COVID Pass service. You can download your digital NHS COVID Pass and print it.

If you cannot apply digitally using the NHS App or online service, you can ask for an NHS COVID Pass letter to be sent to you in the post.

You only need to have proof of your first and second dose to obtain a COVID Pass for events and travel. Proof of having had a booster jab should be included in the NHS app soon.  

Can I get a COVID-19 vaccination exemption letter from my GP?

Some individuals are unable to be vaccinated and/or tested for medical reasons. You can apply for proof that you have a medical reason why you should not be vaccinated and/or tested. 

To do this, you must phone the NHS COVID Pass service on 119 and ask for an NHS COVID Pass medical exemptions application form.

Return your application form to the GP or relevant clinician stated on the form. Your application will be clinically reviewed by your doctor, specialist or midwife.

You’ll automatically get the results of your application by post 2 to 3 weeks after applying.

Please do not contact your GP or the clinician reviewing your exemption unless they ask you to contact them.

Possible reasons for medical exemption are limited.  You cannot get an exemption because you have chosen not to have the vaccination.

More details about the process and possible reasons for medical exemption are on the GOV.UK website.

My vaccination is not showing in the NHS app what should I do?

If there is an error with your vaccination record or you are unable to see it on your NHS COVID Pass, call 119 and ask to be referred to the Vaccine Data Resolution Service (VDRS). Your GP cannot make changes to your vaccination record so please do not contact your practice.

If there is an error with the personal information on your NHS COVID Pass, such as an incorrect name or address, please contact your GP practice. The practice will be able to correct this. 

Please note that you only need to have proof of your first and second dose to obtain a COVID Pass for events and travel. Proof of having had a booster jab is not currently available via the NHS app but should be included soon.  

I’ve been told to pay for a vaccine 

The vaccine is only available on the NHS for free to people in priority groups, and the NHS will contact you when it is your turn. Anyone offering a paid-for vaccine is committing a crime. The NHS will never ask you to press a button on your keypad or send a text to confirm you want the vaccine, and never ask for payment or for your bank details.

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726 which is free of charge.

If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.

Can I have the vaccine while fasting/during Ramadan?

The British Islamic Medical Association has issued specific advice urging Muslims observing Ramadan not to delay getting the vaccine. Islamic scholars have said that injections for non-nutritional purposes do not invalidate the fast. You can read the full statement on their website.

The British Islamic Medical Association (IBMA) position statement on the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

After consulting Muslim health care professionals, Islamic scholars and Muslim umbrella bodies from across the UK, the IBMA has issued a position statement on the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine stating that they recommend the vaccine to ‘all eligible at-risk individuals in Muslim communities’.

Read about the Council For Mosques Position on COVID-19 Vaccines

Where can I find more information?

The most up to date information on the COVID-19 vaccine can be found on the NHS website.

The BBC has produced some information about coronavirus vaccines in five South Asian languages.

Information for people with health conditions

A number of charities have worked with the NHS to produce advice about the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine and certain health conditions. You can find this information on the NHS website. If you have a health condition that means you are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, or you are an adult carer, the NHS will contact you to arrange your vaccination appointment.