Protect yourself and the NHS, by getting your free NHS COVID-19 vaccination
Pharmacy2U are proud to support the NHS in vaccinating the nation against COVID-19
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has altered all of our lives but thanks to the hard work of medical experts across the world, vaccines are now available.
As a trusted NHS service, supporting over half a million patients to manage their repeat prescriptions, we’re proud to be assisting the NHS in their mission to get the nation vaccinated against COVID-19. We’ve set up vaccination clinics across England to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to everyone eligible, on behalf of the NHS.
How the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination service works at Pharmacy2U clinics
The COVID-19 vaccine is given as an injection, similar to the flu vaccine, and is given in 2 doses. The 2nd dose is given 11 to 12 weeks after your 1st dose.
The NHS will invite you to book your vaccination
The NHS will contact you when you're eligible to book your COVID-19 vaccine and you’ll be directed to the national booking system, where you can choose your preferred location, dates and times for both of your vaccination appointments.
If you’ve selected a Pharmacy2U location, come to our vaccination clinic
On your appointment date, arrive at your chosen vaccination clinic and you’ll be greeted by one of our team. Don’t forget to wear a facemask and if you bring your invitation letter with you, this will help us to check you in quickly on the day.
Come to our vaccine centre for your appointment
If you’re driving, you’ll be asked to wait around 15 minutes before leaving. Following your vaccination, we’ll provide you with the necessary aftercare information.
How long will my appointment take?
Your appointment will take 30 - 45 minutes.
Have you been contacted by the NHS to book your vaccination? If so, click the link below
Please only use this service if you have received a letter on behalf of the NHS inviting you to book your vaccination appointments. Letters are being sent out every week - you might not get your letter straight away.
Book an appointmentWho’s eligible for a Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine?
Currently, the NHS is providing the vaccine to the following groups who are most at risk from coronavirus:
- People aged over 70
- People who live or work in care homes
- Health care workers at high risk
The NHS is inviting patients for a vaccination. Find out when you’ll be eligible for the vaccine here.
How to book an appointment?
The NHS will notify you when it’s your turn to have the vaccine. You’ll then be directed to the national booking system to choose where you’d like to have your vaccination. The NHS, GP’s, pharmacies and other healthcare teams are working hard to make as many locations as possible available, to support the nationwide rollout of the vaccine.
Pharmacy2U have a number of clinics across the country that you can choose from and we’ll be setting up more in the coming weeks. Use our postcode search to find our nearest vaccination clinic:
Search for your nearest COVID-19 vaccination clinic
You must book an appointment through the NHS national booking system in order to use this service
Tell me when you release more locationsHow effective is the Covid-19 vaccine?
The two vaccines currently available in the UK have an efficacy of between 70% and 90% at preventing COVID-19 symptoms, when measured three weeks after the first injection is administered; however, they are also between 95% and 100% effective at preventing severe symptoms and hospitalisation.
Both vaccines require two doses. After the second dose of the vaccine, the efficacy increases further, and the duration of its effect is also increased. However, while the vaccine can prevent you from getting COVID-19 symptoms, it is not yet known if it also stops you from spreading the virus to other people, so it’s still important to follow social distancing guidance, and cover your nose and mouth in places where you are near other people.
How safe is the Coronavirus vaccine?
Any vaccine that is approved goes through several clinical trials and safety checks that all licensed medicines must go through. The MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) is the Government’s medicines safety agency who ensure the safety of medicines and vaccines. Find out more about the safety of the vaccine here.
How long since your second dose do you have to wait before having your booster?
You should have the booster no earlier than 6 months after you received your second dose of the COVID vaccine. The NHS will invite you for your booster dose when it’s time.
Which vaccine is the COVID-19 booster?
The NHS advises that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (which now also has a brand name, "Comirnaty") should be given for the booster dose, regardless of which vaccine type you received for your first and second doses; clinical trials have shown this is well tolerated and provides a strong booster response.
Alternatively, a half dose of the Moderna vaccine may be given; or if you're unable to receive either of these vaccines, for example due to allergies, the AstraZeneca vaccine may be given to those who received it previously.
Who is currently eligible for the booster vaccine?
The booster vaccine is being offered to the most vulnerable people first - following the same pattern we saw at the start of the COVID vaccination programme.
Therefore, those who are currently eligible to receive the booster vaccine include people in these categories, whose second COVID vaccine dose was given over 6 months ago:
- all adults aged 50 years or over
- frontline health and social care workers
- those living in residential care homes for older adults
- all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19, and adult carers
- adult household contacts of immunosuppressed people
Can I have the flu vaccine at the same time as my COVID booster?
Yes. Clinical trials have shown that there is no reduction in immune response to either vaccine when they are given at the same time, and it is safe to administer both injections together; they will usually be given in different arms. It is highly recommended to book both your booster and flu vaccine as soon as possible and ahead of the winter months, to protect yourself from the complications and the risk of serious illness from both these viruses. Having COVID and flu at the same time significantly increases the risk of death, so vaccination is especially important this winter.
You can book your flu jab here or speak to a member of the team at our clinics when you attend your COVID booster appointment.
Why should you get the COVID-19 vaccine?
The vaccine is very likely to prevent you from getting COVID-19 symptoms if you are exposed to the virus, and even if you do catch the virus and display symptoms, the vaccine is extremely likely to stop them being so bad that you require a trip to hospital.
Once I have booked do I need to do anything before arrival?
It's best to wear clothing that will allow easy access to the upper arm - the injection is given into the muscle near the top of the shoulder.
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