During vaccination - Frequently asked questions

What happens when I arrive at the vaccination site?

You will be asked to show your booking reference when you arrive to confirm that you have booked a vaccination appointment. You should not go to a vaccination site without having booked a vaccination appointment, unless it is advertising a “walk-in clinic”. Please arrive only a few minutes only before your appointment time to avoid possible queuing and delays.

You will be given a mask and asked to sanitise your hands. You will then be asked some questions to confirm who you are and if you have any illnesses or conditions that might impact on the vaccination. If you’re having a second dose, you will also be asked about any side-effects from your first dose. If there are no issues, you will then receive your vaccination via an injection in your arm or shoulder. You will be given a vaccination card recording the details of your vaccination type and date.

If the nurse who talks to you has any concerns about you being vaccinated, you might be asked to see a doctor before you can have your vaccination.

Who will give my vaccination?

All staff working in our vaccination sites will be fully trained in administering vaccines.

New vaccinators will have undergone both a comprehensive training programme and competency assessment to ensure they can safely administer vaccines to patients under the clinical supervision of an experienced health care professional. This training will include how to deal with possible adverse reactions to a vaccine.

How long will my vaccination take?

The vaccination itself will be very quick but you will need to answer some questions to confirm who you are and that there isn’t any reason why you can’t have the vaccination. The amount of time this takes depends on which vaccination site you go to and when but it’s probably best to allow around 30 minutes.

What do I do when I go for my vaccination I have any special requirements?

If you have any special requirements, please tell a member of staff when you’re inside the vaccination centre. This could include if you can’t speak English, if you have a disability or if you need additional support to have your vaccination. There is access to an interpreting service for people’s whose first language isn’t English.