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How do I get the Covid jab and is it compulsory for anyone? How do I book my Covid jab and does it work against Omicron?
(about 1 hour later)
The government has scrapped plans to make Covid jabs compulsory for frontline NHS staff in England. About 37 million people have now had a Covid booster dose across the UK - more than 64% of those eligible.
About 37 million people have now had booster Covid vaccine doses across the UK - more than 64% of those eligible. The government is urging anyone who hasn't yet been jabbed to come forward, but has dropped plans to make Covid jabs mandatory for frontline NHS staff in England.
What's happened to government plans for the NHS? How do I book my Covid vaccine?
The government had planned to compel frontline NHS workers (with some exceptions) in England to get jabbed by 1 April if they wanted to to keep their job. You can book your first, second or booster jab online or go to a walk-in clinic.
However, there were warnings that going ahead with this policy would cause a staffing crisis. About 77,000 NHS staff are unvaccinated. You need to leave eight weeks between your first and second doses, and wait a further 12 weeks before having your booster.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the change of mind was due to "dramatic changes" in the virus since the policy was devised last year. In England: Over-12s can book first or second doses, and over-16s can book a third or booster dose online, by calling 119, or visiting a walk-in clinic
Is vaccination compulsory for anyone else? In Scotland: Over-16s can register for their first dose or book their second or booster dose online, or by calling 0800 030 8013
For most people in the UK, the Covid vaccine is not mandatory. In Wales: Over-16s will be invited for their booster by their health board. If you've not been invited - or you've not had your first two doses - you can contact your health board
However, care home staff in England must also already be vaccinated (unless exempt). In Northern Ireland: Over-12s can book online or call 0300 200 7813
And a number of employers, including Morrisons, Next, Ikea, Ocado and Wessex Water have cut sick pay for unvaccinated workers who are forced to isolate after being exposed to Covid. People with weakened immune systems have also been offered a third primary dose as well as a booster.
Employees will receive only the statutory-sick-pay (SSP) minimum (£96.35 per week), unless there are mitigating circumstances.
All staff who test positive for the virus will still receive full sick pay, regardless of their vaccination status.
Across the UK, Covid passports providing vaccination status or negative test results are required to enter some venues.
Many foreign countries are restricting entry to vaccinated travellers or imposing restrictions on those who are not.
When can I have a booster?
In England boosters are now available to all over-16s three months after their second dose - but appointments can be booked after two months. Some walk-in appointments are also available.
In Scotland boosters can be booked online.
In Wales people should wait to be invited, with older and higher-risk people being prioritised.
In Northern Ireland people aged 18 to 29 can go to walk-in hubs, and make booster appointments.
Why do I need a booster?
Early studies from UK researchers suggested a booster vaccine - on top of the first two jabs - provides 80-85% protection against Omicron (compared with 97% against Delta).
More antibodies are developed thanks to the booster, giving the body stronger defences against the virus.
It makes it harder for Omicron to infect the body, although current vaccines are still not a perfect match.
Pfizer has started clinical trials of a new Covid vaccine which targets the Omicron variant.
Moderna will soon begin trials of its own Omicron-specific jab, and AstraZeneca has also started working on a new version of its vaccine.
Do vaccines work against Omicron?
Which children are being vaccinated?
All children aged 12 and over are being offered two doses of the Pfizer jab. They can usually have a second dose 12 weeks after the first.
A low-dose version of the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for children aged five to 11 who have health conditions putting them at greater risk from catching Covid. Eligible children in this age group are now being invited for vaccination in Scotland
Primary school children who live with clinically vulnerable adults should also be offered a jab, government vaccine advisers said.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) also recommended that the normal booster dose should be offered to children aged 12-15 if they:
are in an at-risk group or live with someone who is immunosuppressed
have a severely weakened immune system - they should get four doses
It is not yet clear when children will get these doses.
About 16 and 17-year-olds in England who had a second vaccine dose at least three months ago are being invited to have their booster.
They can make an appointment or attend a drop-in clinic, as can eligible children of the same age in Scotland.
Children who are not considered to be at high risk from Covid should wait 12 weeks after a positive Covid test before having the vaccine.
What vaccine will I get for my booster?What vaccine will I get for my booster?
Your booster will be a single dose of either Pfizer or Moderna - regardless of which vaccine you received before.Your booster will be a single dose of either Pfizer or Moderna - regardless of which vaccine you received before.
If you have recently tested positive for Covid, you should wait four weeks from the date of the test before having your booster. However if you cannot have Pfizer or Moderna for medical reasons, you will be offered a booster dose of AstraZeneca.
What if I've tested positive for Covid?
You should wait four weeks from the date of a positive test before having your jab, even if you have no symptoms.
Children who aren't at high risk from Covid should wait 12 weeks after a positive test before having the vaccine.
You shouldn't have the booster if you have a severe illness or high fever, but Pfizer and Moderna say a mild fever or a cold are not reasons to delay.You shouldn't have the booster if you have a severe illness or high fever, but Pfizer and Moderna say a mild fever or a cold are not reasons to delay.
The vaccines do not infect you with Covid, and cannot cause positive results on a lateral flow or PCR test.The vaccines do not infect you with Covid, and cannot cause positive results on a lateral flow or PCR test.
What if I haven't had my first or second vaccine? Why do I need a booster? Will it work against against Omicron?
You can still book your first or second jab. You need to wait eight weeks between the first and second. The level of protection offered by the Covid vaccine reduces over time.
In particular, the government wants unvaccinated pregnant women to come forward. Early studies from UK researchers suggest a booster vaccine - on top of the first two jabs - provides 80-85% protection against Omicron (compared with 97% against Delta).
In England, bookings for over-12s can be made online, by calling 119, or visiting a walk-in clinic The booster means more antibodies are developed, giving the body stronger defences against the virus. The head of Pfizer has suggested people may need to have annual Covid boosters to ensure a high level of protection, as happens for flu.
In Scotland, over-16s can register for their first or second vaccine online, or by calling 0800 030 8013 Pfizer has started clinical trials of a new Covid vaccine which directly targets the Omicron variant.
In Wales, adults can contact their local health board Moderna and Astra-Zeneca are also working on Omicron-specific jabs.
In Northern Ireland, you can book online or call 0300 200 7813; walk-in centres are open to older teenagers A new campaign is urging pregnant women to get jabbed, after figures showed that 96% of those admitted to hospital with Covid between May and October last year were unvaccinated.
What about side effects? Do vaccines work against Omicron?
The most common ones include a sore arm, headache, chills, fatigue and nausea. Why do boosters work if two doses struggle?
Which children are being vaccinated?
All children aged 12 and over are being offered two doses of the Pfizer jab.
Sixteen and 17-year-olds who had a second vaccine dose at least three months ago can have a booster.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended that the booster is also offered to children aged 12-15 who:
are in an at-risk group or live with someone who is immunosuppressed
have a severely weakened immune system, in which case they should get four doses
In addition, about 500,000 five to twelve-year-olds who have health conditions putting them at greater risk from catching Covid are being offered two low-dose Pfizer jabs, eight weeks apart.
The JCVI said that primary school children who live with clinically vulnerable adults should also be offered the low-dose jab.
What are the side effects?
The most common side effects 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.
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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
There are extremely rare, but occasionally fatal, cases of people developing blood clots after taking the AstraZeneca vaccine.There are extremely rare, but occasionally fatal, cases of people developing blood clots after taking the AstraZeneca vaccine.
And a very small number of people have experienced a severe allergic reaction after the Pfizer vaccine. A very small number of people have experienced a severe allergic reaction after the Pfizer vaccine.
You should discuss any existing serious allergies with your healthcare professional before being vaccinated.You should discuss any existing serious allergies with your healthcare professional before being vaccinated.
Covid vaccines and rare clots - what do we know? Are vaccines compulsory?
For most people in the UK, the Covid vaccine is not mandatory.
The government had said frontline NHS workers in England (with some exceptions) would have to be fully jabbed by 1 April or lose their jobs, but has dropped the policy.
About 77,000 NHS staff are still unvaccinated and there were fears compulsion would lead to a staffing crisis.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the reversal was due to "dramatic changes" in the virus since the policy was devised last year.
Care home staff in England must also already be vaccinated (unless exempt).
Is vaccination compulsory for anyone else?
No, but a number of companies have cut sick pay for unvaccinated workers who are forced to isolate after being exposed to Covid.
They will receive only the statutory-sick-pay (SSP) minimum (£96.35 per week), unless there are mitigating circumstances.
All staff who test positive for the virus still receive full sick pay, regardless of their vaccination status.
Across the UK, Covid passports showing vaccination status or negative test results are required to enter some venues.
Many foreign countries are restricting entry to vaccinated travellers or imposing restrictions on those who are not.