Important: Changes from 30 June 2024

If you have not had your 1st or 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine yet, the last date you'll be able to get vaccinated is 30 June 2023.

If you have not had any doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, getting a 1st dose is the best way to protect yourself and others and you should arrange this as soon as possible.

After 30 June 2023, you can only get a vaccination if you're at increased risk from COVID-19. In most cases, you'll have to wait until the autumn.

If you develop a new health condition or start treatment that severely weakens your immune system, you may be able to get vaccinated sooner if your clinician advises it.

Who can get a 1st and 2nd dose

Everyone aged 5 years old and over (on or before 31 August 2024) can get a 1st and 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Children who turned 5 on or after 1 September 2024 can only get a 1st and 2nd dose of a COVID-19 vaccine if they're either:

at increased risk due to a health condition or because of a weakened immune system
living with someone who has a weakened immune system

If you have not had a 1st or 2nd dose yet, you're still eligible and should get them as soon as possible.

People at increased risk from COVID-19 aged 5 to 15 years old

You should be told if you or your child are at increased risk from COVID-19.

You may be at increased risk from COVID-19 if you have some conditions, including:

a long-term lung condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma (if you need steroid tablets) or cystic fibrosis
a long-term heart condition, such as congenital heart disease or chronic heart failure
a long term condition of the kidney, liver or digestive system
a long-term problem with the brain or nerves, such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, an inherited condition or autism
severe or multiple learning disabilities (or being on the learning disability register), such as Down’s syndrome
diabetes or another hormone disorder, such as Addison’s disease
a weakened immune system, due to a medical treatment (such as steroid medicine, biological therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy), a condition (such as leukaemia), a genetic condition or from having an organ or bone marrow transplant
problems with the spleen, having no spleen or having a condition that can affect the spleen (such as sickle cell disease)
a serious genetic condition that affects multiple systems in the body, such as mitochondrial disease
being pregnant (all stages)
living in a long-stay nursing and residential care home as a younger adult

This list is a summary and does not cover everything. There are other health conditions that might mean you're at increased risk from COVID-19.

People at increased risk from COVID-19 aged 16 years old and over

You should be told if you or your child are at increased risk from COVID-19.

You may be at increased risk from COVID-19 if you have some conditions, including:

a long-term lung condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma (if you need steroid tablets) or cystic fibrosis
a long-term heart condition, such as congenital heart disease, chronic heart failure or atrial fibrillation
long term kidney disease (CKD) stage 3, 4 or 5
a severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis
a long-term problem with the brain or nerves, such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Huntington’s disease, myasthenia gravis, or a stroke or transient ischaemic attack
severe or multiple learning disabilities (or being on the learning disability register), such as Down’s syndrome
diabetes or another hormone disorder, such as Addison’s disease
a weakened immune system, due to a medical treatment (such as steroid medicine, biological therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy), a condition (such as leukaemia), or from having an organ or bone marrow transplant
problems with the spleen, having no spleen or having a condition that can affect the spleen (such as sickle cell disease)
being severely obese (having a body mass index (BMI) over 40 or above)
a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
being pregnant (all stages)
living in a long-stay nursing and residential care home as a younger adult

This list is a summary and does not cover everything. There are other health conditions that might mean you're at increased risk from COVID-19.

How to get a 1st and 2nd dose

If you're eligible for a 1st and 2nd dose, you can get them now. You do not need to wait to be contacted.

You can get a 1st and 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by:

booking online
going to a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site

You may also be contacted by a local NHS service, such as your GP surgery, to get a vaccine for you or your child. This is usually done by text or a phone call, but you may sometimes get a letter or a notification in the NHS App.

Book your appointment online

You can book online to get your vaccine at a vaccination centre or pharmacy.

Book your COVID-19 vaccination appointment online

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.

Go to a walk-in vaccination site

Find a walk-in vaccination site to get your vaccine without needing an appointment.

If you had your 1st dose at a walk-in vaccination site, you can book your 2nd COVID-19 vaccination appointment online. You'll need to wait 24 hours after your 1st dose before you can book.

Find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site

When to get a 1st and 2nd dose

Once you've had your 1st dose you need to wait several weeks before getting your 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccination.

You need to wait:

8 weeks (56 days) if you're aged 18 years old or over
12 weeks (84 days) if you or your child are aged 5 to 17 years old
8 weeks (56 days) if you or your child are aged 5 to 17 years old and at increased risk from COVID-19

See what to do if you have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19

If you have COVID-19, or think you might, wait until you feel better before getting vaccinated.

You should also wait if you have a high temperature or feel particularly unwell with any illness.

If you've recently got better from COVID-19, there's no need to delay getting vaccinated.

Getting a 1st and 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine