Before vaccination

Should I contact my GP or hospital to arrange getting the COVID-19 vaccination?

No, there’s no need for you to contact anyone about getting your vaccination. When it is the right time, you will receive an invitation to come forward. If you are aged 16 and over, you can now attend one of our local walk-in clinics without waiting to receive your invitation. You can find more details here: COVID-19 Vaccination Walk-in and Pop-up Clinics (stwics.org.uk)

For 12-15 year olds, you will have been offered your Covid-19 vaccine at school. However, if you choose not to have your Covid-19 vaccine at school, you can book your vaccination online for an appointment at a vaccination centre or pharmacy. Some of our local vaccination sites also offer walk-ins - details of which sites do, listed here: COVID-19 Vaccination Walk-in and Pop-up Clinics (stwics.org.uk)

While, for 12-15 year olds, who have been identified as being at higher risk if they catch Covid-19, parents will be contacted by their local vaccination programme to arrange vaccination.

If you are contacted by your GP practice, you may also be able to book an appointment directly with them.

How will I receive my invitation?

You will receive a letter, a text or a phone call, either from their GP practice or the national NHS. This letter or text will include all the information you will need to book appointments. Please do not contact the NHS to get an appointment until you get this letter, text or call.

You may receive a text from 'NHSvaccine' inviting you to book your vaccination appointments at a larger vaccination centre or pharmacy.

The text will be sent to the phone number your GP surgery has listed for you.

You may also get a letter a few days after.

If you receive a text from 'NHSvaccine' inviting you to book and you're not sure if it is genuine, you can wait to receive your letter.

Texts from 'NHSvaccine' are separate to any invites you may get from local NHS services such as a GP surgery or hospital.

If you're invited to book a vaccination at a local NHS service, you'll usually get a text or a phone call. You may sometimes get a letter.

How do I know if my invitation to be vaccinated is a scam?

The COVID-19 vaccine is free of charge on the NHS. The NHS will never ask for:

your bank account or card details
your pin or banking password
copies of personal documents to prove your identity such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips

If you think you have been a victim of fraud or identify theft, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

More information about Covid-19 vaccination fraud can be found here:

poster-guide-be-alert-to-vaccine-fraud.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

How do I book an appointment?

If you are over the age of 17 ¾ , you can book an appointment via the National Booking System at Book or manage your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk) or by calling 119. You can also attend one of our local walk-in clinics where no appointment is needed. For more details of times and locations go to:

COVID-19 Vaccination Walk-in and Pop-up Clinics (stwics.org.uk)

If you are aged 16 or 17, you aren’t currently able to book an appointment via the National Booking System or by calling 119, so you should go to one of our walk-in clinics. For more details of times and locations go to:

COVID-19 Vaccination Walk-in and Pop-up Clinics (stwics.org.uk)

While, for 12-15 year olds, who have been identified as being at higher risk if they catch Covid-19, parents will be contacted by their local vaccination programme to arrange vaccination.

If you are contacted by your GP practice, you may also be able to book an appointment directly with them.

How can I book a vaccination appointment if I don’t speak English?

Interpreters are available on request if you call 119 and you can

use text phone 18001 119 or the NHS British Sign Language interpreter

service at www.interpreternow.co.uk/nhs119.

Where are the vaccination centres?

You will be invited to attend a vaccination appointment at a local GP service, a local hospital service, a local pharmacy or at a large vaccination centre. A list of the COVID-19 vaccination centres available in the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin area are detailed at Information for the public - SaTH, and are also available to view on NHS England’s website

Some centres will be offering different types of vaccine at different times and might only be available to certain age groups and other groups requiring certain vaccine types. When you book a vaccination appointment via the National Booking System or 119 you will offered all appointments near to where you live that are appropriate to your age or other eligibility criteria.

I have received a letter or text but I have already booked or attended an appointment at a local GP service or I’ve been to a walk-in clinic. What should I do?

If you’ve already been vaccinated through your GP practice or you’ve attended a walk-in clinic, please ignore the letter or text. There is nothing more you need to do.

What if I need to cancel or rearrange my appointment?

If you booked your appointment online via the national booking system, you can change your appointment in the “manage my appointments” section. If you booked your appointment via 119, you can make any changes needed by calling 119.

If you can’t attend your appointment for any reason or you decide to attend a walk-in clinic, please cancel or rearrange it so that the appointment slot can be given to someone else who needs it.

Can I still book an appointment if I previously had an appointment but didn’t attend or cancel it?

Yes, you only won’t be able to book an appointment if you’ve already been vaccinated.

What do I need to prepare for my vaccination appointment?

You will need to wear a mask or face covering and it’s suggested that you wear a short-sleeved top or a top with loose sleeves that you can roll up.

You will need a copy of your invitation letter or your online booking.

You might be asked for your NHS number so it’s advisable to take this with you if you can. You can find this on any letter you receive for a NHS appointment or on your vaccination invitation letter. If you haven’t got this, there’s no need to worry as we will be able to locate you on our NHS IT system with your personal details like your name, address and date of birth.

If you’re attending for your second dose, please take the vaccination card you were given for your first dose with you so that the details of your second dose can be added to it.

You should ideally attend your appointment on your own but if you need support, you might be able to bring one other person with you.

Please bring as few bags and belongings with you as possible.

Should I attend my vaccination appointment if I’ve tested positive for Covid-19?

No, you shouldn’t attend your vaccination appointment if you’ve tested positive 28 days before your appointment or if you have any symptoms of Covid-19. Please cancel and rebook your appointment online using the national booking system at nhs.uk or by calling 119, or cancel and attend a walk-in clinic at a later date.