THE NHS is currently offering Covid-19 vaccinations to people in the following priority groups:
- Cohort 5 – people aged 65-69
- Cohort 6 – people with underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk from Covid-19 and carers of elderly and disabled people.
- Cohort 7 – people aged 60-64
- Cohort 8 – people aged 55-59
If you are in one of these groups, you will be contacted when it is your turn for a vaccination, either by your practice or the NHS national booking service.
Anyone aged 55 or over can book an appointment through the national booking service without waiting for a letter or by calling 119. This will be extended to people in cohort 9 (50-54) over the next few weeks so keep an eye on the site homepage to see when you can use the service.
We know lots of people will be eager to get protected but please do not contact your GP practice or the NHS for an appointment. The NHS is working hard to make sure those at greatest risk are offered the vaccine first and people will not be able to make an appointment until they have received an invitation.
Covid-19 vaccinations are free of charge and only available through the NHS. Text messages from the NHS will show as being sent from NHSvaccine and will only link to the NHS.uk website. The NHS will never ask you for your bank account or card details, your PIN or banking password, or ask you to press a button on your keypad.
Please continue to follow all the safety guidance even when you’ve had the vaccine as you may still be able to spread the disease, in particular hand hygiene, wearing a face mask and social distancing.
For more information about the vaccine, please visit www.nhs.uk or see these frequently asked questions.
Information for people with health conditions
The following charities have worked with the NHS to produce advice about the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine and certain health conditions. 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.
- Asthma: Asthma UK: coronavirus – what should people with asthma do now?
- Cancer: Macmillan: coronavirus vaccine for people living with cancer
- Diabetes: Diabetes UK: coronavirus vaccines and diabetes
- Epilepsy: Epilepsy Action: coronavirus and epilepsy
- Heart disease: British Heart Foundation: coronavirus vaccine – your questions answered
- HIV: Terrence Higgins Trust: coronavirus vaccine guidance for people living with HIV
- Kidney disease: Kidney Care UK: coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for patients with kidney disease
- Learning disabilities: Mencap: coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine
- Liver disease: British Liver Trust: update for people with liver disease on the COVID-19 vaccine
- Lung conditions: British Lung Foundation: coronavirus vaccine – what people with lung conditions need to know
- Lupus – Lupus UK: lupus and COVID-19 vaccination
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) – MS Society: MS and the COVID-19 vaccines
- Sickle cell – Sickle Cell Society: learn about the COVID-19 vaccine