We are receiving a high volume of calls regarding the COVID vaccine.
I am sure you understand that we need to keep our phone lines accessible for medical queries that we can deal with. We hope the following will answer some of your questions.
COVID 1st & 2nd Dose Information
You can use the below service to book a 1st and 2nd dose of the vaccine if you or your child are aged 12 years old or over.
If you’ve already had your 1st dose, you can still book a 2nd dose using this service.
If you’re aged 18 years old or over
If you’re 18 years old or over and booking a 2nd dose using this service, you’ll be offered appointments from 8 weeks after your 1st dose.
If you or your child are under 18 years old
If you or your child are under 18 years old and booking a 2nd dose using this service, you’ll be offered appointments from 12 weeks after your 1st dose.
If you or your child are at at high risk from COVID-19, you’re eligible for a 2nd dose from 8 weeks after your 1st dose. This service will offer you appointments from 12 weeks after your 1st dose. To get your 2nd dose from 8 weeks, please either:
- contact your GP surgery
- go to a walk-in site with a letter from a GP that says you’re eligible for a 2nd dose from 8 weeks after your 1st dose
Advice for children aged 12 to 15 years old and their parents or guardians
A set of COVID-19 vaccination resources for children and young people are available on GOV.UK in a variety of languages, Braille and Easy Read. These resources are to help children, young people and their parents or guardians make a decision about whether to get vaccinated.
There’s also a list of pre-screening questions on GOV.UK to help you and your child consider what is likely to be asked at your appointment. You do not need to complete this before you go.
Consent to treatment is an important part of the process. A consent form is available on GOV.UK to help you and your child discuss this decision, but you do not need to print or bring the form with you. Staff at the vaccination site will ask for consent before giving the vaccine.
Third Primary Dose and Booster (4th dose) Information for people with a severely weakened immune system
The 3rd dose for people with a severely weakened immune system is different to a booster dose.
The 3rd dose is for people who had a severely weakened immune system when they received their 1st or 2nd dose.
The vaccine may not have given them as much protection as it can for people who did not have a severely weakened immune system.
If you’ve had a 3rd dose for people with a severely weakened immune system, you’ll be eligible for a booster (4th dose) from 3 months (91 days) after your 3rd dose. You cannot book boosters (4th doses) using this service yet, but your GP or hospital specialist will invite you when it’s due.
You can book a 3rd dose using the below service, if all of these apply;
- you’ve received a letter from your GP or hospital specialist inviting you to book a 3rd dose for people with a severely weakened immune system
- you’re aged 16 years old or over
- it’s been at least 8 weeks (56 days) since your 2nd dose
You’ll need to bring the letter with you to your appointment.
If you do not have a letter
If you do not have a letter from your GP or hospital specialist inviting you for a 3rd dose, you must bring either:
- a hospital letter that describes the condition or treatment that caused you to have a severely weakened immune system at the time of your 1st or 2nd dose
- a prescription or a medicine box with your name and the date showing when the medicine was prescribed – this must show that you had a severely weakened immune system at the time of your 1st or 2nd dose
A clinician at the site will check to make sure that you’re eligible for a 3rd dose.
Important
If you do not bring a letter, prescription or medicine box that shows you had a severely weakened immune system when you had your 1st or 2nd dose, you will not be able to receive a 3rd dose of the vaccine at your appointment.
If you think you’re eligible for a 3rd dose but you do not have a suitable letter, prescription or medicine box, please contact your GP or hospital specialist.
If you or your child are under 16 years old
3rd doses at walk-in sites
If you or your child are under 16 years old and eligible for a 3rd dose, you can take one of these things to any walk-in vaccination site that is offering 3rd doses:
- a letter from your GP or hospital specialist inviting you to book a 3rd dose for people with a severely weakened immune system
- a hospital letter that describes the condition or treatment that caused you to have a severely weakened immune system at the time of your 1st or 2nd dose
- a prescription or a medicine box with your name and the date showing when the medicine was prescribed – this must show that you had a severely weakened immune system at the time of your 1st or 2nd dose
You must take your evidence with you to the walk-in site. Please also check that the site is offering vaccines for your or your child’s age group.
Boosters (4th doses) at walk-in sites
If you or your child are eligible for a booster (4th dose), you can go to any walk-in vaccination site that is offering boosters if you have a letter from a GP or hospital specialist inviting you for either a 3rd dose or a booster (4th dose) for people with a severely weakened immune system.
You must take your letter with you to the walk-in site. Please also check that the site is offering vaccines for your or your child’s age group.
Booster Dose Information
You can use this service below to book a booster dose of the vaccine if both of these apply:
- you’re aged 16 years old or over
- it’s been 2 months (61 days) since your 2nd dose – you’ll be offered appointment dates from 3 months (91 days) after your 2nd dose
If you’ve had a positive COVID-19 test
If you’ve had a positive COVID-19 test, you need to wait before getting any dose of the vaccine. You need to:
- wait 4 weeks (28 days) if you’re aged 18 years old or over
- wait 12 weeks (84 days) if you’re aged 12 to 17 years old
- wait 4 weeks (28 days) if you’re aged 12 to 17 years old and at high-risk from COVID-19
This starts from the date you had symptoms, or the date of the positive test if you did not have any symptoms.
Please choose a suitable appointment date when booking. You can also cancel and rebook an existing appointment for a later date if needed.
Local COVID-19 vaccination walk-in clinic times
https://covid.healthierfuture.org.uk/events/vaccination-walk-in-clinic-times
Transport details
COVID-19 Vaccine Record
From 17 May 2021, people in England who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can demonstrate their vaccination status for international travel. A full course is currently two doses of any approved vaccine. Vaccine status will be available from:
- the NHS App which you can download from app stores
- the NHS website
- 119 – by requesting a paper letter
You will need to register to use the online services, if you have not already. It may take more than a week for your identity to be checked and verified.
If you cannot access the online services, and you have had both doses of the vaccine, you can request a paper letter from the NHS by calling 119. Only call 119 if you are due to travel outside the UK in the near future and have had your second dose more than 5 working days ago. It may take up to 7 working days for the letter to arrive.
This practice is not able to provide you with a letter that shows your COVID-19 vaccination status. Please do not contact the practice about your COVID-19 vaccination status unless you have been advised to by the 119 service.
When you’re planning your travel, you should check the latest information on demonstrating your COVID-19 status when travelling abroad on the gov.uk website. Make sure there is enough time to get proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status before you are due to travel.
