Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination
The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines are safe and effective. They give you the best protection against COVID-19. People aged 12 and over can get a 1st and 2nd dose of a vaccine alongside boosters for people aged 18 years old and over.
If you’ve had a positive COVID-19 test, you need to wait before getting any dose of the vaccine. You need to:
- wait 4 weeks (28 days) if you’re aged 18 years old or over
- wait 12 weeks (84 days) if you’re aged 12 to 17 years old
- wait 4 weeks (28 days) if you’re aged 12 to 17 years old and at high-risk from COVID-19
This starts from the date you had symptoms, or the date of the positive test if you did not have any symptoms.
1st Dose Information:
To book your 1st dose of the vaccine, you or your child must be aged 12 or over.
If you or your child have had a positive COVID-19 test, you need to wait 4 weeks (28 days) before getting a 1st dose if you’re either:
- 18 years old or over
- under 18 years old and at higher risk from COVID-19
If you or your child are under 18 years old and not at higher risk from COVID-19, you need to wait 12 weeks before getting a 1st dose after a positive COVID-19 test.
This starts from the date you had symptoms, or the date of the positive test if you did not have any symptoms. Please cancel and rebook your appointment for a later date if needed.
2nd Dose Information:
To book your 2nd dose of the vaccine if you or your child is aged 16 or over.
If you’ve already had a 1st dose somewhere else, such as at a walk-in site, you may need to wait 24 hours before you’re able to book a 2nd dose using this service.
→ People aged 18 and over:
If you’re 18 years old or over and booking a 2nd dose, you’ll be offered appointments from 8 weeks after your 1st dose.
→ People aged 18 and over, if you’ve had a positive Covid-19 test:
If you’re 18 years old or over and you’ve had a positive COVID-19 test, you need to wait 4 weeks (28 days) before getting your 2nd dose. This starts from the date you had symptoms, or the date of the positive test if you did not have any symptoms. Please cancel and rebook your appointment for a later date if needed.
→ Young people aged 16 and 17:
If you’re 16 or 17 years old and booking a 2nd dose using this service, you’ll be offered appointments from 12 weeks after your 1st dose. If you’re 16 or 17 years old, you can get a 2nd dose from 8 weeks after your 1st dose at a walk-in vaccination site if you either:
- live with someone who is more likely to get infections
- have a condition that means you’re at high risk from COVID-19
→ Young people aged 16 and 17, if you’ve had a positive COVID-19 test, you need to either:
- wait 12 weeks before getting a 2nd dose
- wait 4 weeks (28 days) before getting a 2nd dose if you’re at high risk from COVID-19
This starts from the date you had symptoms, or the date of the positive test if you did not have any symptoms. Please cancel and rebook your appointment for a later date if needed.
Some children aged 12 to 15 years old are being offered 2 doses of the vaccine if either:
- they live with someone who is more likely to get infections
- they have a condition that means they’re at high risk from COVID-19
If your child is at high risk from COVID-19, they’ll be sent a letter reminding them to have a 2nd dose around 8 weeks after their 1st dose. You can take this letter to a walk-in vaccination site from 8 weeks after the day they have their 1st dose. Please also check that the site is offering vaccines for your child’s age group.
If your child lives with someone who is more likely to get infections, please contact their GP surgery about getting a 2nd dose.
If you think your child is eligible for a 2nd dose but you have not been contacted around 8 weeks after their 1st dose, please speak to their GP surgery.
3rd Dose Information:
The 3rd dose for people with a severely weakened immune system and is different to a booster dose.
You can book a 3rd dose of the vaccine if you’re 18 years old or over and you’re eligible for the 3rd dose for people with a severely weakened immune system.
If you’re eligible for a 3rd dose, you should have received a letter from a GP or hospital doctor, inviting you to book a 3rd dose.
The 3rd dose is for people who had a severely weakened immune system when they received their 1st or 2nd dose. The vaccine may not have given them as much protection as it can for people who did not have a severely weakened immune system.
→ If you or your child are under 18 years old
If you or your child are under 18 years old and eligible for a 3rd dose, you can take your letter to any walk-in vaccination site that is offering 3rd doses. Please also check that the site is offering vaccines for your or your child’s age group.
Booster Dose Information:
You can use this service to pre-book a booster dose of the vaccine if it’s been 2 months (61 days) since your 2nd dose and you’re in one of these groups:
- aged 18 and over
- aged 16 or 17 years old with a health condition that puts you at high risk from COVID-19
- aged 16 or 17 years old and a frontline health and social care worker
Although you can pre-book a booster from 2 months (61 days) after your 2nd dose, the appointment dates you’ll be offered will be from 3 months (91 days) after your 2nd dose.
→ If you’ve had a positive Covid-19 test
If you’re eligible for a booster dose and you’ve had a positive COVID-19 test, you need to wait 4 weeks (28 days) before getting a booster dose.
This starts from the date you had symptoms, or the date of the positive test if you did not have any symptoms. Please cancel and rebook your appointment for a later date if needed.