Who gets it first?
Due to the limited number of doses available, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended offering the vaccine to people in order of risk.
The full prioritisation list can be found here and is as follows (in order of priority):
- Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
- All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers
- All those 75 years of age and over
- All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
- All those 65 years of age and over. All individuals aged 16 to 64 years old with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
- All those 60 years of age and over
- All those 55 years of age and over
- All those 50 years of age and over
Can I choose which vaccine I have?
No, but vaccines are only available in the UK after they’ve passed rigorous national tests for safety and efficacy, so it doesn’t make a difference.
Are the vaccines halal?
Yes. The vaccines do not contain any gelatine or other animal products, or tissue from aborted foetuses.
Are the vaccines kosher?
Yes.
Is the vaccine safe for black and Asian people?
Yes – Black and Asian doctors were among the first to be vaccinated.
Can the vaccines affect fertility or DNA?
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the Royal College of Midwives, say there is no cause to worry about your future fertility as the vaccines can’t affect your DNA.
Can I get the vaccine if I’m pregnant?
The vaccines were not tested on pregnant women so they will not be offered routinely for now. However, if a pregnant woman is considered high risk of catching and dying from Covid-19, she may be offered the vaccine as the risks are believed to be low.
Can the vaccine give you Covid-19?
No, you cannot get Covid-19 from the vaccines.
Do I still have to follow the hands, face, space guidelines once I’ve been vaccinated?
Yes – you must keep wearing face coverings, maintain social distancing and regularly wash your hands until enough people have had the vaccine and the rates of transmission are low.
How will it be recorded?
Patients are given a record card with details of the vaccine they have received and the details will be added to their GP’s patient record – like all other NHS jabs.
Will there be vaccine passports?
No, there are no plans to introduce any immunity passports following this vaccination programme.
How are vaccines regulated and authorised for use?
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the UK’s independent regulator. Their role is to ensure medicines, devices and vaccines work effectively and are safe for use.
It’s been produced so quickly, have vital stages been missed?
No. There has been such a huge, concentrated focus from scientists across the world to tackle this global health emergency, enabling them to find volunteers, scale up the trials and evaluate results in record time.
Is one vaccine better than another? Can I choose which vaccine I have?
While you can’t choose which vaccine to have, it shouldn’t matter. All vaccines must pass the MHRA’s rigorous and extensive tests on safety and efficacy before they are available in the UK, so you can rest assured that whichever one you receive will be to your benefit.
How will it be recorded?
Like all other NHS jabs, patients will be given a vaccine record card with details of where and when the vaccination was given and when they should return for a second dose. The details will also be recorded on GP patient records.
Will there be vaccine passports?
No, there are no plans to introduce any immunity passports following this vaccination programme. It’s important to note that the record card people receive is not intended to be an immunity certificate.
