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Covid: When will I get the vaccine? Covid: When will I get the vaccine?
(5 days later)
Concerns over the Indian variant mean vaccination is being speeded up and second doses offered earlier to some groups of people. The gap between Covid jabs for over-40s in England and Scotland will now be eight weeks rather than 12.
The change has been made because of concerns about the Delta variant.
Who is being offered the vaccine now?Who is being offered the vaccine now?
In England, people aged 25 and over can book online or on 119 As well bringing forward second doses for over-40s, the government has also said:
In Scotland, people aged 30 and over can get their vaccine, although in some parts of Glasgow people aged 18 and over can get a first jab In England, people aged 23 and over can book online or call 119.
In Wales, people aged 18 and over can get the vaccine. The Welsh government says all adults will have been offered their first dose by Monday 14 June by 19 July, everyone aged 18 and over will be offered first doses - two weeks earlier than planned
In Northern Ireland, people aged 18 and over can book online or call 0300 200 7813 by 19 July, all those aged over 50 and the clinically extremely vulnerable will have been offered second doses
Across the rest of the UK:
In Scotland - people aged 30 and over can get their vaccine, although in some parts of Glasgow people aged 18 and over can get a first jab
In Wales - people aged 18 and over can get the vaccine
In Northern Ireland - people aged 18 and over can book online or call 0300 200 7813
How can I bring my second dose forward?
All vaccines being used require two doses to provide the best protection. In order to give as many people as possible a first dose, the initial UK advice was to offer jabs 12 weeks apart.
In England people over 40 and those with severe underlying health conditions can now receive their second dose after eight weeks.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the NHS would contact people to bring forward their appointments.
You can also rearrange an appointment yourself, but you must first cancel your original booking. You can do this online, or by calling 119. You cannot see availability for earlier appointments until you have cancelled.
Your second dose will be the same type as your first. It may be easier to arrange an earlier jab for AstraZeneca as supplies are relatively good. Pfizer is being used alongside Moderna for under-30s.
Second doses are also being brought forward in Scotland. Anyone whose second appointment is more than eight weeks after their first can rebook it via the NHS Inform website.
In Northern Ireland, the interval between doses has been reduced from 10 weeks to six weeks for appointments scheduled after 14 June 2021. In Wales, the government says vaccination clinics "are accelerating second doses".
Who else has been vaccinated?Who else has been vaccinated?
The roll-out has largely been organised by age, but other people prioritised include:The roll-out has largely been organised by age, but other people prioritised include:
frontline health and social care stafffrontline health and social care staff
clinically extremely vulnerable peopleclinically extremely vulnerable people
over-16s with some health conditions which increase their risk from Covidover-16s with some health conditions which increase their risk from Covid
How soon will I get my second dose?
The vaccines require two doses to provide the best protection. In order to vaccinate as many people as possible and give them the highest levels of protection, UK advice was to leave 12 weeks between doses.
However, people over 50 and those with severe underlying health conditions which put them at high risk will now receive their second dose eight weeks later. This is because of concerns over spread of the Delta variant.
In Northern Ireland, the gap between doses may now be cut to six weeks after the first dose was shown to be only 33% effective against that variant - rising to 88% after the second.
How many people have been vaccinated so far?How many people have been vaccinated so far?
What vaccine will I get?What vaccine will I get?
The UK is using vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNtech, Oxford-AstraZeneca, and Moderna.The UK is using vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNtech, Oxford-AstraZeneca, and Moderna.
People under 40 will be offered an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine if it's available. People under 40 are being offered an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine because of concerns about a possible connection with extremely rare cases of blood clots.
This is because of concerns about a possible connection between that vaccine and extremely rare cases of blood clots.
But the UK's medicines regulator says the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for most people.But the UK's medicines regulator says the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for most people.
A single-dose Covid vaccine made by Janssen has also been approved for use in the UK by the medicines regulator. Twenty million doses have been ordered for the UK and will arrive later this year.A single-dose Covid vaccine made by Janssen has also been approved for use in the UK by the medicines regulator. Twenty million doses have been ordered for the UK and will arrive later this year.
I’m 25 - is it safe for me to get the vaccine?I’m 25 - is it safe for me to get the vaccine?
Is the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine safe?Is the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine safe?
Rare blood clots - what you need to knowRare blood clots - what you need to know
Do vaccines work against the Delta variant?
The Delta variant is believed to be around 60% more infectious than the previous dominant variant in the UK, the Alpha. It's also thought to be twice as likely to result in hospital admissions.
However, new analysis by Public Health England (PHE) shows that two doses of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine were highly effective at preventing hospital admissions for infected patients.
PHE said this is similar to the amount of protection vaccines provide against the Alpha variant.
Vaccine developers are updating their jabs to target new variants more effectively but it's not clear when they will be ready.
Where is the Indian variant and how is it spreading?
How worrying are the new coronavirus variants?
Can you mix and match different vaccines?Can you mix and match different vaccines?
A UK trial is investigating whether using two different vaccines could give better protection and more flexibility.A UK trial is investigating whether using two different vaccines could give better protection and more flexibility.
At present, official guidance says everyone should get the same vaccine for both doses. But in rare circumstances - if only one vaccine is available, or it's not known which was given for the first dose - a different vaccine can be used.At present, official guidance says everyone should get the same vaccine for both doses. But in rare circumstances - if only one vaccine is available, or it's not known which was given for the first dose - a different vaccine can be used.
If you have already had a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, you should also have a second dose. Only those who suffered a rare blood clot should not, the regulator says.If you have already had a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, you should also have a second dose. Only those who suffered a rare blood clot should not, the regulator says.
Do vaccines work against new variants?
The Pfizer and AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines are highly effective against the variant identified in India after two doses, a study from Public Health England has found.
But both vaccines were only 33% effective against the Indian variant three weeks after the first dose, making the second dose vitally important.
The government's scientific advisers say the India Covid variant spreads more easily - although they yet don't know by how much.
Vaccine developers are updating their jabs to target new variants but it's not clear when they will be ready.
Where is the Indian variant and how is it spreading?
How worrying are the new coronavirus variants?
Will people be given a third dose?Will people be given a third dose?
People are being urged to take part in trials to find out whether a third dose could protect against new variants.People are being urged to take part in trials to find out whether a third dose could protect against new variants.
The Cov-Boost study will recruit 3,000 people of all ages to test whether re-vaccinating some people in the autumn is necessary.The Cov-Boost study will recruit 3,000 people of all ages to test whether re-vaccinating some people in the autumn is necessary.
How many vaccine doses are there?How many vaccine doses are there?
The UK has ordered eight vaccines and expects to receive 517 million doses.The UK has ordered eight vaccines and expects to receive 517 million doses.
These include another 60 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine (on top of the original order of 40 million) to be used as part of a booster programme in the autumn.These include another 60 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine (on top of the original order of 40 million) to be used as part of a booster programme in the autumn.
Vaccines supplied by CureVac will be designed to protect against the most concerning new variants.Vaccines supplied by CureVac will be designed to protect against the most concerning new variants.
Can pregnant women get the vaccine?Can pregnant women get the vaccine?
The UK's vaccine committee says pregnant women should be offered a jab when other people their age get one.The UK's vaccine committee says pregnant women should be offered a jab when other people their age get one.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are preferable, they say, because data relating to 90,000 pregnant women has not raised any safety concerns.The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are preferable, they say, because data relating to 90,000 pregnant women has not raised any safety concerns.
Data on how the AZ vaccine works in pregnant women may become available in the near future.Data on how the AZ vaccine works in pregnant women may become available in the near future.
Pregnant women should be offered Covid vaccinePregnant women should be offered Covid vaccine
Will all children be vaccinated?Will all children be vaccinated?
No decision has been made on whether teenagers or younger children will be offered a vaccine in the UK.No decision has been made on whether teenagers or younger children will be offered a vaccine in the UK.
Vaccinating them could help protect other people, but the risk to children from catching Covid remains extremely low.Vaccinating them could help protect other people, but the risk to children from catching Covid remains extremely low.
The Pfizer vaccine has now been approved as safe for 12-15-year-olds in the UK, and the AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines for over-18s.The Pfizer vaccine has now been approved as safe for 12-15-year-olds in the UK, and the AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines for over-18s.
Moderna says its Covid vaccine is "highly effective" in adolescents aged 12-17, and it will soon ask global regulators to approve its use for this age group.Moderna says its Covid vaccine is "highly effective" in adolescents aged 12-17, and it will soon ask global regulators to approve its use for this age group.
Like Pfizer, Moderna is also testing jabs on children between six months and 11 years old.Like Pfizer, Moderna is also testing jabs on children between six months and 11 years old.
Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) is currently testing its vaccines on 12-18s. AstraZeneca is trialling its vaccine on six-to-17-year-olds.Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) is currently testing its vaccines on 12-18s. AstraZeneca is trialling its vaccine on six-to-17-year-olds.
Should all children get a Covid vaccine?Should all children get a Covid vaccine?
Scotland would 'move quickly' to vaccinate childrenScotland would 'move quickly' to vaccinate children
Is a Covid vaccine compulsory?Is a Covid vaccine compulsory?
No, it's not - but everyone is being urged to get vaccinated to protect their family, friends and wider society.No, it's not - but everyone is being urged to get vaccinated to protect their family, friends and wider society.
The government is currently considering whether to make the vaccine compulsory for NHS staff and care workers.The government is currently considering whether to make the vaccine compulsory for NHS staff and care workers.
What about people with allergies?What about people with allergies?
A very small number of people have experienced a severe allergic reaction - known as anaphylaxis - after the Pfizer vaccine.A very small number of people have experienced a severe allergic reaction - known as anaphylaxis - after the Pfizer vaccine.
You should discuss any serious allergies with your healthcare professional before being vaccinated.You should discuss any serious allergies with your healthcare professional before being vaccinated.
Most people will not be affected in any way, although side-effects with all vaccines are possible.Most people will not be affected in any way, although side-effects with all vaccines are possible.
The most common ones include a sore arm, headache, chills, fatigue and nausea.The most common ones include a sore arm, headache, chills, fatigue and nausea.
They are part of the body's normal immune response to vaccines and tend to resolve within a day or two.They are part of the body's normal immune response to vaccines and tend to resolve within a day or two.
Sore arm is most common Covid vaccine side effectSore arm is most common Covid vaccine side effect
Study reveals extent of Covid vaccine side-effectsStudy reveals extent of Covid vaccine side-effects
Why it is normal for some people to experience short-term side effects from Covid-19 vaccinesWhy it is normal for some people to experience short-term side effects from Covid-19 vaccines