Page last updated: 14 September, 2021, 11:43am

Getting your vaccine

Nurse vaccinating a female patient.

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

Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 vaccines are available for:

  • Everyone aged 16 or over
  • Some children aged 12 to 15 who have a higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 or who live with someone at high risk of catching it.

How to get your COVID-19 vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccines currently available are given in 2 doses. You usually have the 2nd dose 8 to 12 weeks after the 1st dose.

If you’re aged 18 or over (or will turn 18 within 3 months) you can:

Children and young people aged 16 to 17 or 12 to 15 with higher risk to COVID-19:

  • People aged 16 and 17, and children aged 12 to 15 who are eligible, will be contacted by a local NHS service such as a GP surgery to book their vaccination appointments.
  • Walk-in COVID-19 vaccination sites are offering the vaccine to people aged 16 and 17. You can find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site in mid and south Essex on our walk-in webpage or in other parts of England on the national NHS website.
  • If you do not have a booked appointment, please only attend a walk-in clinic for your vaccine. If you attend a site that doesn’t have walk-in clinics, you unfortunately will be turned away.

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).

Booking your 2nd dose

You’ll usually need to book a 2nd dose for 8 to 12 weeks after your 1st dose.

Cancelling booked appointments

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).

Which vaccine will I get?

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

  • if you’re pregnant or under 40 you’ll usually be offered appointments for the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines
  • if you’re under 18, you’ll only be offered the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

You should have the same vaccine for both doses, unless you had serious side effects (such as a serious allergic reaction) after your 1st dose.

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

  • Moderna vaccine
  • Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine
  • Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
  • Janssen vaccine (available later this year)

What to expect after your COVID-19 vaccination:

Information on what to expect after your vaccination

Side effects

The COVID-19 vaccines can cause side effects, but not everyone gets them. Most side effects are mild and should not last longer than a week. The NHS website has further information on the possible side effects.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility

Pregnant women should be offered the COVID-19 vaccine. For more information, please see our webpage on the vaccine, pregnancy and fertility.

COVID-19 vaccine ingredients