COVID-19 vaccination. What can you get?
Most people in England aged 5 and over are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination. Click on these links to find out more about the different types of vaccination and which ones apply to you.
Primary doses:
- 1st and 2nd dose for all aged 12 and over, or 5-11 at higher risk
- 1st and 2nd dose for children aged 5 to 11
- 3rd dose for those with a severely weakened immune system
Booster doses:
- 1st booster dose for everyone aged 16 and over, and some children aged 12 to 15
- booster (4th dose) for those with a severely weakened immune system
- spring booster
If you have not booked your appointments yet, you're still eligible and can book anytime.
Click here to book or manage all types of Covid-19 vaccination
If you've had a positive COVID-19 test, you need to wait before getting the COVID-19 vaccine. People aged 18 and over need to wait 4 weeks. Most young people aged 12 to 17 need to wait 12 weeks.
Two doses of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine
Who
Everyone aged 12 and over, and children at high risk aged 5 to 11, can get a 1st and 2nd dose of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.
Click here to find out more about vaccination for children at higher risk and who is eligible.
When
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 eligible children aged 5 to 11, need to wait 4 weeks. Children and young people aged 12 to 17 need to wait 12 weeks.
People aged 18 and over, and eligible children aged 5 to 11, should have their 2nd dose from 8 weeks after your 1st dose. Most young people aged 12 to 17 should have their 2nd dose from 12 weeks after their 1st dose.
How
Most people aged 12 years and over can:
- book their COVID-19 vaccination appointments online for an appointment at a vaccination centre or pharmacy
- find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site to get vaccinated without needing an appointment
Children aged 12 to 15 can also get their COVID-19 vaccine at school. Find out more about COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 12 to 15
For children at higher risk aged 5 to 11, their parents and guardians will get an invitation from a local NHS service such as a GP surgery or a hospital specialist to make an appointment for their child. A small number of walk-in COVID-19 vaccination sites are also offering the vaccine to children aged 5 to 11. You'll need to bring the letter, email or text inviting your child for their vaccine.
Two doses for children aged 5 to 11
Starting from April the NHS is offering coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines to children aged 5 to 11 years. Experts have advised that parents of all children aged 5 to 11 years should be offered the chance to have their child vaccinated.
Children will be offered the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Each vaccine is a third of the dose of vaccine that is given to older children and adults.
Children at greater risk of serious illness if they catch COVID-19 will need 2 doses of vaccine, 8 weeks apart. All other children will be offered 2 doses of vaccine 12 weeks apart.
Third dose for people with a severely weakened immune system
If you are aged 12 or over and had a severely weakened immune system when you had your first 2 doses of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, you will be offered a 3rd dose and a booster (4th dose).
The first 2 doses may not have given you as much protection as they can for people who do not have a severely weakened immune system. A 3rd dose may help give you better protection.
Who
You will be offered a 3rd dose and a booster (4th dose) if you have a severely weakened immune system. This includes if you had or have:
- a blood cancer (such as leukaemia or lymphoma)
- a weakened immune system due to a treatment (such as steroid medicine, biological therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy)
- an organ or bone marrow transplant
- a condition that means you have a very high risk of getting infections
- a condition or treatment your specialist advises makes you eligible for a 3rd dose and a booster (4th dose)
When
You'll usually be offered a 3rd dose at least 8 weeks after you had your 2nd dose.
How
If you're eligible, a GP or your hospital specialist should contact you to let you know you can get a 3rd dose or booster (4th dose). You may also get a letter from the NHS advising that you may be eligible and to discuss this with your doctor. You'll usually get vaccinated at your local hospital or a local NHS service such as a GP surgery.
If you're aged 12 or over, you can also book your 3rd dose or booster (4th dose) appointment online or you can go to a walk-in vaccination site without needing an appointment.
You will need to bring with you either:
- a letter from your GP or hospital specialist inviting you for a 3rd dose or booster (4th dose)
- 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
If you think you’re eligible for a 3rd dose or booster (4th dose) but you do not have a suitable letter, prescription or medicine box, you may still be able to get your vaccination.
First booster for people aged 16 and over
Who
The booster is available for everyone aged 16 or over, and for children aged 12 to 15 who either
- have a condition that means they're at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19
- live with someone who has a weakened immune system
When
You can get your booster dose if you had a 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 3 months ago.
How
You can:
- book your COVID-19 vaccination appointment online for an appointment at a vaccination centre or pharmacy – you can pre-book your booster dose if it's been 2 months (61 days) since you had your 2nd dose
- find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site to get vaccinated without needing an appointment
- wait to be contacted by a local NHS service such as your GP surgery and book your appointments with them
If you cannot book an appointment online, you can call 119 free of charge. You can speak to a translator if you need to. If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, or are a British Sign Language (BSL) user, you can use textphone 18001 119 or the NHS 119 BSL interpreter service.
Children at higher risk aged 12-15 going to a walk-in site need to bring the letter, text or email inviting you to get a booster dose. If you do not have an invitation, you can bring a letter from your GP or hospital specialist about your condition, or a letter from the GP or hospital specialist of the person you live with confirming that anyone they live with should get a booster.
Boosters (4th dose) for people with a severely weakened immune system
If you have or had a severely weakened immune system when you had your first 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, you may have been offered a 3rd dose of the vaccine.
You can get a booster dose (4th dose) from 3 months after you had your 3rd dose.
A GP or your hospital specialist will invite you for your booster dose when it's due.
You can also book your appointment online or go to a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site.
Find out more about COVID-19 vaccination for people with a severely weakened immune system
Spring booster
Who
You will be offered a spring booster if you:
- are aged 75 and over
- live in a care home for older people
- are aged 12 and over and have a weakened immune system
COVID-19 may affect you more seriously if you are in one of these groups. The spring booster is being offered to help reduce your risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.
When
You will be contacted by the NHS when you are due a spring booster. You will usually be offered an appointment around 6 months after your last dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
If you are eligible for a spring booster, but have not had a 1st or 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine yet, you should have them as soon as possible.
If you have a severely weakened immune system you need to get a 3rd dose before you get a booster.
Find out more about the COVID-19 vaccine for people with a severely weakened immune system
How
You will be contacted by the NHS and invited to book your spring booster when it's due.
You may be offered appointment dates from 3 months (91 days) after your last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. But try to book an appointment around 6 months after your last dose to get the best protection from your spring booster.
Book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment online for your spring booster if you are:
- aged 75 and over
- aged 12 and over and have a weakened immune system
If you live in a care home for older people, contact your care home manager about getting vaccinated.
If you think you are eligible for a spring booster but did not get an invite, contact your GP surgery or hospital specialist.
COVID-19 booster dose and flu vaccine
Some people who can get a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine are also eligible for the annual flu vaccine.
If you are offered both vaccines, it's safe to have them at the same time.
