Page last updated: 9 April, 2021, 4:17pm

Vaccine eligibility

We are currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people most vulnerable.

In England, the vaccine is being offered in some hospitals and pharmacies, and at hundreds of local vaccination centres run by GPs. More centres are opening daily. When you receive your invitation letter please check to see which sites are local to you. Find out more information on our vaccination centre page.

The vaccine is currently being rolled out to the groups listed below:

people aged 50 and over
people at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
people who live or work in care homes
health and social care workers
people with a condition that puts them at higher risk (clinically vulnerable)
people with a learning disability
people who are a main carer for someone at high risk from coronavirus

Update: Vaccine supply

On Wednesday 17 March the Government’s Vaccine Task Force announced that there will be a reduction in the supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine from week commencing 29 March. This is predicted to continue for a period of four weeks.

Despite this delay in supply, the vaccination programme across Essex will continue to focus on residents aged 50 and above.

If you’re aged 50 and over and haven’t received your 1^st dose of the Covid vaccine yet, you need to act NOW!

Contact your GP and make an appointment. Or visit the National Booking Service or call 119 for an appointment at a vaccination centre.

It’s quick and simple to book, and the vaccines are safe and effective.

If you live in Essex and need help to book an appointment you can ring 0344 2573 961 (open 10am to 4pm, local rate).

If you have already made an appointment, you should still attend your appointment as normal.

Second doses of the vaccine are not affected – if you have an appointment for your second dose it will still go ahead as planned.

COVID-19 vaccinations for eligible unpaid carers

Unpaid carers in Essex, aged 16 and over, are being invited to receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination.

If you think you are an eligible unpaid carer who has not been contacted for your vaccination, please speak to your GP surgery ASAP.

Eligibility includes those who are:

The parents or primary carers of children and young people who are disabled and are clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 or have underlying health conditions
Young carers aged 16+ of people who are elderly or clinically extremely vulnerable or have underlying health conditions
Caring for someone with severe mental illness

The order in which people will be offered the vaccine is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

COVID Vaccination: Guide for adults

This guide explains about the COVID-19 vaccination, who is eligible and who needs to have the vaccine to protect them from coronavirus, available in multiple languages and formats).

Guide to phase two of the COVID-19 vaccination programme

This guide explains phase two of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, who is eligible and who needs to have the vaccine to protect them from Coronavirus

Having your 2^nd COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 vaccine 2nd dose infographic Download

So that the COVID-19 vaccination programme continues to make progress as planned, the NHS in Essex wants to make sure residents know what to do when it’s time for their 2^nd dose of the vaccine

The 1st dose of the COVID-19 vaccine should give you good protection from coronavirus. But you need to have the 2 doses of the vaccine to give you longer lasting protection

It’s important that the same vaccine is used for both doses and it will help if you return to the same place as where you had your 1^st dose

Remember whether you have had your vaccine or not, please continue to follow all the guidance in place to control the virus and save lives

The following table explains where you should go to receive your 2^nd dose

Where did you receive your 1^st dose?	Where should you have your 2^nd dose?
At your GP practice or a site run by your GP / Primary Care Network (Primary Care Networks are groups of GPs working together to administer the vaccine from a single site)	You should return to your GP practice or the site run by your GP / Primary Care Network for your 2^nd dose Your GP may have already given you a date for your 2^nd dose If you don’t have a date yet, your GP will contact you soon with a date If you had your 1st dose of vaccine at your GP practice, they will have a record of which vaccine you had. Your GP knows when to invite you for your 2nd dose, but they may only give you a weeks’ notice to attend your appointment. When they do, please make sure you attend
At a large vaccination centre	You should have already been given a date to return to a vaccination centre for your 2^nd dose If you don’t have a date yet, you can book one online using the National Booking System or by calling 119 If you live in Essex and need help to book an appointment you can ring 0344 2573 961 (open 10am to 4pm, local rate)
At a hospital	If you had your 1^st dose of vaccine at Basildon Hospital, Broomfield Hospital, Orsett Hospital, Southend Hospital or Towngate Theatre in Basildon and booked your appointment online using ShiftPartner, then your 2^nd appointment must be also booked using ShiftPartner If you need to change the date of your 2^nd appointment, you can also do this online using ShiftPartner If you need help please call the Mid & South Essex COVID Vaccination Booking Line on 01245 515919 If you booked your 1^stdose by calling the Mid & South Essex COVID Vaccination Booking Line (01245 515919) then we will contact you with details of your 2^nd appointment
At a Community Pharmacy	You should have already been given a date to return to a community pharmacy for your 2^nd dose If you don’t have a date yet, you can book one online using the National Booking System or by calling 119

Please do not turn up for a vaccination without making an appointment first. If you turn up without an appointment you will unfortunately be turned away

If for any reason you are unable to make your appointment for your 2^nd dose, please let us know ASAP by contacting your GP, Hospital or the National Booking System

Priority groups information

Please remember to be eligible for the vaccine you must be registered with a GP surgery in England.

Find out more information on how to register with a GP in England at the link below