COVID-19 vaccination in the UK: who is offered it, side effects and safety

The NHS says the COVID-19 vaccine helps protect against COVID-19, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness for some people. Vaccines are offered because viruses change and protection fades over time, so eligible people are encouraged to top up their protection. The NHS says vaccination can help reduce your risk of severe symptoms, help you recover more quickly if you catch COVID-19, reduce the risk of hospital admission or death, and protect against different types of the virus.

No vaccine is completely effective. The NHS says you may still get or spread COVID-19 after vaccination, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says some people may still catch it but any infection should be less severe. UKHSA also notes it may take a few days for the body to build up the extra protection from a dose. Following general advice on avoiding catching and spreading the virus therefore still matters.

Eligibility has narrowed since the early pandemic and is set for each campaign by the UK government on expert advice, so it is important to check the NHS website for the current position. As published by the NHS for England at the time of writing, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine if you are aged 75 or over, are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment, or live in a care home for older adults. UKHSA's guide to the spring 2026 campaign gives the same three groups for that campaign.

The NHS gives examples of conditions and treatments that weaken the immune system. They include current or past blood cancer such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma, organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplants, HIV, genetic disorders of the immune system such as SCID, chemotherapy, biological therapy or radiotherapy, steroid medicine depending on the dose, and long-term immunosuppressive treatment for conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, scleroderma or psoriasis. The NHS says the list is a summary and that you should speak to your pharmacy, GP surgery or specialist if you are unsure.

The NHS page covers England and refers readers to NHS inform for Scotland, Public Health Wales and nidirect for Northern Ireland, so arrangements elsewhere in the UK may differ.

The NHS says you can book online or through the NHS App, or use a walk-in site, and that you do not need to wait for an invitation. Some people may be vaccinated at a community pharmacy, GP surgery or care home. The NHS gives 31 January 2027 as the last date for the current winter programme, with online booking closing on 30 January 2027.

The vaccine is an injection, usually one dose. The NHS says some people with severely weakened immune systems, for example after a stem cell transplant or CAR-T therapy, may need an extra dose, and that a GP or specialist will assess this and advise on timing in relation to treatment. UKHSA says that for the spring campaign people are invited around 6 months after their last dose, though they can have it as soon as 3 months, and that people who missed earlier doses should still have one dose rather than catching up on every missed one.

In winter you can have the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as the flu or RSV vaccine, according to the NHS. Children under 12 are given smaller doses than older children and adults.

Most eligible people can have the vaccine, including if pregnant or breastfeeding, the NHS says. If you have, or think you have, COVID-19, or you have a high temperature or feel very unwell with any illness, wait until you feel better. If you have recently recovered from COVID-19, there is no need to wait.

Most people with allergies can have the vaccine, including if they have had a mild allergic reaction such as a rash, swelling, wheezing or hives after a previous dose, but you should tell the healthcare staff about any previous allergic reaction. The NHS says people at risk of a severe allergic reaction may be referred to an allergist and advised to be vaccinated at a specialist clinic or hospital where they can be monitored, which will only be needed in rare cases such as a history of anaphylaxis. UKHSA adds that if you had a serious reaction to a previous dose you should discuss it with your doctor, and that people with allergy histories may be asked to wait 15 minutes after vaccination.

The NHS lists a sore arm, tiredness, a headache, feeling achy and mild flu-like symptoms as the most common side effects, which are mild and get better within a week. UKHSA says the arm soreness tends to be worst around 1 to 2 days after the vaccine. You can rest and take paracetamol, following the dose advice on the packaging, and children can have paracetamol for children.

More serious reactions are rare. The NHS says severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is very rare and that vaccinators are trained to deal with it immediately. It also says rare cases of heart inflammation (myocarditis) have been reported, and that most people recovered following rest and simple treatments. UKHSA says myocarditis or pericarditis cases have been seen mostly in younger men and within several days of vaccination. The NHS says the vaccine cannot give you a COVID-19 infection.

You can report a suspected side effect through the Yellow Card scheme, which both the NHS and UKHSA mention. The NHS says the MHRA continuously monitors the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and that the vaccines in use in the UK have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.

The NHS advises contacting NHS 111 if you or your child have had a COVID-19 vaccine and have symptoms that are getting worse or you are worried about symptoms. Call 999 or go to A&E if, within a few days of vaccination, you have chest pain or a feeling of tightness in the chest, severe difficulty breathing (gasping, choking or unable to get words out), or a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart. Do not drive yourself to A&E; ask someone to drive you or call 999 and bring any medicines you take.

UKHSA says side effects normally last less than a week and recommends calling NHS 111 if they seem to get worse or you are concerned.

COVID-19 vaccination for eligible groups is free on the NHS and is delivered through GP surgeries, pharmacies, walk-in sites and care homes. UKHSA says that for the spring 2026 campaign the vaccines used are made by Pfizer, Moderna or Sanofi and approved in the UK.

Private COVID-19 vaccination for people outside the NHS groups is a matter for individual providers, and this guide does not cover pricing or availability. If you are not eligible and are worried about your risk, for example because of a long-term condition, speak to your GP or specialist about whether you might qualify through a weakened immune system, and ask any private provider which vaccine they use and how they will record it.