Page updated 26 June 2025.
It’s important local year-round provision of Covid-19 vaccination remains accessible for people who have a health condition or treatment that severely weakens their immune system (as defined in Chapter 14a, boxes 1 and 2 of the Green Book) and may need additional protection before the autumn.
This includes the following:
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Individuals aged six months and over and have a health condition or are receiving treatment that severely weakens their immune system outside of a seasonal Covid-19 vaccination campaign.
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Individuals who require revaccination following Chimeric Antigen Receptors Cell Therapy (CAR-T) or stem cell transplantation and recovery.
Patients will need to contact their GP in the first instance, requesting a referral.
They can also email the Vaccination Team.
The Covid-19 vaccine is still recommended for people with a history of allergic reactions provided those are not linked to ingredients within the vaccines.
We have a dedicated process for supporting people with severe allergies.
This includes specialist allergy advice from Guys and St Thomas' Hospital to help local clinicians and their patients agree the best approach for them.
If you have a history of severe allergic reactions, especially anaphylactic shock, please contact your GP when you are eligible for the vaccine.
If appropriate they will be able to arrange a referral to a hospital-based service to receive the vaccine.
Please do this rather than booking a vaccine appointment directly through the national booking service.
Antibody and antiviral treatments are offered to people with Covid-19 who are at highest risk of becoming seriously ill.
People can use a positive lateral flow test (LFT) to be referred for treatment. It is important treatment starts within five days of a positive test.
Most people who have conditions that put them in the highest risk category will have been contacted directly with information about how to get these treatments, if needed.
Treatments for Covid-19 are for people aged 12 and over who:
- are at highest risk of getting seriously ill from Covid-19
- have symptoms of Covid-19 that started within the last five days
- have tested positive for Covid-19 by PCR or LFT within the last five days.
If you think you're in the highest risk group and need to access Covid-19 treatment, follow these steps to be considered for a referral.
Keep rapid lateral flow tests at home.
If you're eligible for Covid-19 treatment, you should keep rapid lateral flow tests at home.
You may be able to pick up free rapid lateral flow test kits from your local pharmacy if you're eligible for treatment.
The pharmacy may ask you questions about your medical history to confirm you’re eligible for free tests. If you have a copy of a letter or email sent to you by the NHS that says you’re eligible for Covid-19 treatment, take this with you. A letter or email is not essential, but it will help the pharmacy to confirm you’re eligible for free tests more easily.
Someone else can collect free tests on your behalf, for example, a friend, relative or carer. If you do not have a friend, relative or carer who can collect your tests for you, you may be able to book a volunteer responder by calling 0808 196 3646.
Anyone collecting free tests on your behalf needs to give the pharmacy your details, including your:
Full nameAddressDate of birthNHS number (if available)Medical condition(s) to confirm your eligibilityThey should also bring any copies of letters or emails that have been sent to you by the NHS about Covid-19 treatments.
Take a rapid lateral flow test if you get symptomsIf you have any symptoms of Covid-19, take a rapid lateral flow test as soon as possible, even if your symptoms are mild. Only take a test if you have symptoms.
You can also use tests you've paid for, for example, a test you've bought from a supermarket or pharmacy.
If your test is positive, phone your GP surgery, NHS 111 or hospital specialistPhone your GP surgery, NHS 111 or hospital specialist as soon as possible if your test result is positive.
They'll decide if you need a referral for an assessment for Covid-19 treatment or may carry out the assessment themselves.
As part of the assessment, you may be asked what other medicines you take or receive, including any vitamins and minerals, so it's important to have a list of these ready.
If you're eligible for treatment, it's important to start the treatment as soon as you can. Treatments for Covid-19 need to be given quickly after your symptoms start to be effective.
If you’re prescribed capsules or tablets, the medicine can be collected on your behalf by someone else, such as a friend or relative. You’ll be advised where the medicine can be collected from. Alternatively, the NHS may be able to arrange for the medicine to be delivered to you.
If the treatment needs to be given as a drip in your arm (infusion), you'll usually get it at your local hospital or in a local health centre.
You'll get instructions on where to get the treatment and how to get there and back safely.
If your test is negative, do a total of three tests over three daysIf your test result is negative, but you still have symptoms of Covid-19, you need to do a total of three rapid lateral flow tests over three days.
For example, if you did your first test today, you should do a second test tomorrow and a third test the day after.
If any test result is positive, you can stop testing and call your GP surgery, NHS 111 or hospital specialist as soon as possible.
Find out more about treatment for Covid-19 on NHS.uk
Find out more about treatments for Covid-19.
Covid-19 - frequently asked questions
Updated 25 March 2025. For national information about the Covid-19 vaccine, visit nhs.uk/
If you are registered with a GP you will be invited, using the contact details your GP has.
If you are not registered with a GP, use the online search on www.nhs.uk.
If you are registered with a GP, please make sure they have your correct contact details. Please contact your practice and they will update your records.
Like some other vaccines, levels of protection may decline over time. Vaccinations are being offer to those as greatest risk to help them maintain strong protection from becoming seriously ill or needing to go to hospital if they catch Covid-19.
Vaccines enabled the gradual and safe removal of restrictions on everyday life. Thanks to the Covid-19 vaccine, we were able to get back to doing the things we love.
However, Covid-19 is still out there and there are still people in hospital unwell with the virus.
Many of those that are in hospital are those who have not been vaccinated or have not received a booster.
No, all Covid-19 vaccines offered are highly effective and provide a strong booster response. When you attend your appointment, the NHS will offer you a safe, effective vaccine.
All Covid-19 vaccines offered in England have been approved for use by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
These vaccines have met the MHRA’s strict standards of safety, quality, and effectiveness. 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.
Each of the vaccines are tested on tens of thousands of people across the world. They are tested on both men and women, on people from different ethnic backgrounds, and of all age groups.
You do not need your NHS number to book a vaccine or use a walk-in clinic.
However, if you need to find your NHS number it is a 10 digit number and should be on any letter or document you have received from the NHS, including prescriptions, test results, and hospital referral or appointment letters.
There is an online tool for finding your NHS number if you do not have any information with it on.
Vaccine records
The Vaccination Data Resolution Service (VDRS) is no longer updating vaccination records.
If a patient believes there is missing or incorrect vaccination data on their records, they now need to re-visit the site where they had their vaccination and ask for their record to be updated.
They can also contact the ICB if the site has closed, or it has been more than 365 days since their vaccination.
Email the ICB's Vaccinations Team kmicb.
Travel
It is a traveller’s responsibility to check individual requirements for any vaccine when travelling abroad.
If needed, people in England who have both Covid-19 vaccine doses can demonstrate their vaccination status via the NHS App.
Fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding
Yes. The Covid-19 virus increases the risk for pregnant women needing hospitalisation and the potential of premature birth.
The vaccines are recommended to protect you and your baby from severe illness and premature birth.
Pregnant women are also encouraged to have the flu jab and the whooping cough vaccine.
Read more about the vaccine and fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding on the NHS.uk website
No, you don’t need to stop breastfeeding. Read more about the vaccine and fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding on the NHS.uk website
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.
Read more about the vaccine and fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding on the NHS.uk website
Read more about the vaccine and fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding on the NHS.uk website
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has also updated its guidance about the vaccine and pregnancy.
On its website you can find questions and answers and links to more information to help make informed decisions about vaccination in pregnancy.
When to get the vaccine
Yes. The offer of a vaccine remains open to everyone who is eligible regardless of when you were first offered it.
No. If you have symptoms, have a positive test or are self-isolating with other members of your household who have the virus, please do not come to a vaccination site.
You will be able to get your vaccine another time.
If you are symptom-free you can have the vaccine.
Vaccination sites
During the seasonal vaccination programme, vaccines will be available at pharmacies or walk-in clinics.
There is a national website for finding a walk-in clinic by entering your postcode.
During the seasonal vaccination programme, if you are unable to have a vaccine at your GP practice, you will need to attend either a pharmacy or walk-in clinics offering the Covid-19 vaccine.
There is a national website for finding a walk-in clinic by entering your postcode.
Patients who are recorded by their GP practice as housebound will get a home visit for the vaccine.
Your GP practice or an alternative provider will contact you to arrange a visit during an active campaign.
What to expect when attending your vaccination appointment
When you arrive for your appointment, there will be someone there to explain the next steps, including the pre-screening questions, you will be asked to consent to have the vaccination and you will be called in to have your vaccine.
You will also need to follow any instructions you may have been given when you booked your appointment.
Please don’t bring anyone else with you, unless you have to. You may accompany someone who is having their vaccination, if they cannot attend without your help.
No, unless your booking is for a family booking and everyone has been booked in for a vaccination, please make every effort to come to your appointment alone.
Myth busting
No. You cannot catch Covid-19 from the vaccine.
Most side effects of the Covid-19 vaccination are mild and should not last longer than a week.
For more information on the vaccine side effects, visit the NHS website.
The vaccines available in the UK have all 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.
The Covid-19 vaccines do not contain egg or animal products.
The vaccines are suitable for people of all faiths.
Local progress
You can find updates and nationally published data on the UK Health Security Agency dashboard.