About the COVID-19 vaccination

Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 vaccination is safe and effective. It gives you the best protection against COVID-19.

Children aged six months to four years old who are at increased risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 can currently get a COVID-19 vaccine.

You may be able to get a seasonal COVID-19 vaccine in autumn 2023 if you're at increased risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19. For example, this may be due to a health condition or your age. Manx Care will contact you if your NHS record suggests you may be eligible.

If you develop a new health condition or start treatment that severely weakens your immune system, your specialist may advise you to get a COVID-19 vaccine sooner. Speak to your specialist for more information.

The Autumn 2023 programme commenced on Monday 11 September 2023. The following groups will be offered a COVID-19 vaccine in the Autumn 2023 programme:

residents in a care home for older adults
all adults aged 65 years and over
persons aged six months to 64 years in a clinical at risk group, as laid out in the Immunisation Green Book.
persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts (as defined in the Green Book) of people with immunosuppression
persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers (as defined in the Green Book) and staff working in care homes for older adults

Find out more about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

You can opt in or opt out of the vaccination programme.

Types of COVID-19 vaccine

There are several different COVID-19 vaccines in use. They have all met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.

Most people can have any of the COVID-19 vaccines and will be offered a vaccine that gives protection from more than one type of COVID-19.

You cannot choose which vaccine you have.

Some people are only offered certain vaccines, for example:

if you're pregnant
if you're under 18 years old
if you're 75 years old or over
in very rare cases if you’ve had a severe allergic reaction to one of the common vaccines you may be referred to a specialist clinic for an alternative COVID-19 vaccine
Children under 12 years old will be given smaller doses than older children and adults.

COVID-19 vaccines efficacy

If you're at increased risk of severe COVID-19, getting a seasonal COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others. Research has shown the vaccine helps:

reduce your risk of getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19
reduce your risk of catching and spreading COVID-19
protect against different strains (variants) of COVID-19

Seasonal vaccines are offered because protection fades over time.

A vaccine helps give you good protection from becoming seriously ill or needing to go to hospital if you catch COVID-19.

There is a chance you might still get or spread COVID-19 even if you have a vaccine, so it's important to follow advice about how to avoid catching and spreading COVID-19.

COVID-19 accines and side effects

The COVID-19 vaccines can cause some side effects, but not everyone gets them.

Find out more about COVID-19 vaccine side effects and safety.

More information about the COVID-19 vaccines

The Sanofi and GSK (VidPrevtyn Beta) COVID-19 vaccine contains an oil derived from sharks.

The other COVID-19 vaccines offered by the NHS do not contain animal products, including egg.

Find out more about the COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the UK, including their ingredients:

Read the guide to the use of human and animal products in vaccine on GOV.UK

You can opt in or opt out of the vaccination programme.