Page last updated: 13 April, 2022, 3:25pm

Vaccine eligibility

Arrange your vaccination

Arrange a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination by booking an appointment via the NHS website or by visiting a walk-in clinic:


Book an appointment

Find a walk-in clinic

The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines are safe and effective. They give you the best protection against COVID-19.

The COVID-19 vaccines currently approved for use in the UK are:

You cannot usually choose which vaccine you have. When you book, you’ll only be offered appointments for vaccines that are suitable for you.

Most people can have any of the COVID-19 vaccines, but some people are only offered certain vaccines. Visit the NHS website for more information.

Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine?

  • Everyone aged 5 to 17 is eligible for 1st and 2nd doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (2nd dose 12 weeks after 1st dose) Read our FAQ for parents.
  • Everyone aged over 18 is eligible for 1st and 2nd doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (2nd dose 8 weeks after 1st).
  • Booster doses are currently available for everyone aged 16 and over (booster at least 12 weeks after 2nd dose).
  • The most at risk 12 to 15 year olds are also eligible for the booster.
  • The spring booster is available to people aged 75 and over, people who live in a care home for older people, or people aged 12 and over who have a weakened immune system.
Find out more about vaccine eligibility

Booking an appointment

You can book your COVID-19 vaccination appointments online now, or wait to be contacted by your local service.

If you do not have a booked appointment, you may be turned away if the vaccination centre does not offer walk-in clinics.

If for any reason you are unable to make your appointment, please let us know ASAP by getting in contact with whoever you booked your appointment with (i.e. GP or National Booking Service).

If you cannot book appointments 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.

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

Walk-in Clinics

A number of walk-in clinics operate across mid and south Essex.

You do not need to be registered with a GP to use a walk-in site.

Find a walk-in clinic near you

You can also find walk-in clinics in others parts of England on the national NHS website.

Having your 2nd COVID-19 vaccination

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

Find out more about more about booking your 2nd dose

Booster jabs

A booster dose of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine helps improve the protection you have from your first 2 doses of the vaccine.

It helps give you longer-term protection against getting seriously ill from COVID-19.

More about the booster jabs

Do you need your NHS number or registered at a GP practice?

You do not need to be registered with a GP to receive a COVID-19 or have an NHS number to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

The below letter sets out that no one should be denied or turned away from any site or prevented from booking for these reasons. You can take this letter with you to show that you are allowed to have a COVID-19 vaccine:

COVID-19 vaccination programme – patients without an NHS number and who are not registered with a GPDownload

If you’re not registered at a GP practice, Find out more information on how to register with a GP in England at the link below

Register with a GP