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.
- Information for parents and carers of children aged 6 months to four years at higher risk of COVID-19
- What to expect after your child’s 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:
- Comirnaty Omicron XXB 1.5 30 Microgram dose
- Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12 and over patient information leaflet on GOV.UK
- Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 patient information leaflet on GOV.UK
- Sanofi and GSK (VidPrevtyn Beta) Covid-19 vaccine patient information leaflet on GOV.UK
Read the guide to the use of human and animal products in vaccine on GOV.UK