COVID-19 vaccines
Covid-19 vaccines will always be available free of charge. The NHS will never ask you to share bank details to confirm your identity or pay for a vaccine.
There's a lot of dangerous misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines. Please get your information from official sources. We’ve added a list of resources and further information here.
The government has issued a response regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The UK regulator confirms that people should continue to receive the COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca, following suspensions by some countries of the COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca over suspected blood clots, the MHRA confirms that the benefits of the vaccine in preventing COVID-19 far outweigh the risks.
People should still go and get their COVID-19 vaccine when asked to do so.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and offer the best protection from becoming seriously ill.
The NHS are responsible for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines and will be in touch with you when it’s your turn to be vaccinated.
More information about the vaccine rollout can be found on the NHS BLMK CCG website.
Luton's faith and community leaders call on people to take the vaccine
Quick links
- About Covid-19 vaccines
- Who is eligible for Covid-19 vaccines?
- Are Covid-19 vaccines safe?
- Covid-19 vaccine deployment for frontline social care workers
- Commonly asked questions
- Resources and further information
About Covid-19 vaccines
The coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines are safe and effective. They give you the best protection against coronavirus.
The Covid-19 vaccination will reduce the chance of you suffering from the disease. It may take a few weeks for your body to build up protection from the vaccine.
Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective – some people may still get Covid-19 despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe.
For more information, please see
- Information about the coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine on the NHS website
- Covid-19 vaccination: guide for older adults
- What to expect after your Covid-19 vaccination
- Information on Covid-19 vaccination: easy-read guide
- Covid-19 vaccination: easy-read leaflet
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Who is eligible for the vaccine?
The NHS is currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine to those at highest risk of catching the infection and of suffering serious complications if they catch the infection - see the priority rollout graphic at the bottom of this page.
This includes:
- older adults
- frontline health and social care workers
- care home residents and staff
- those with certain clinical conditions
When more vaccine becomes available, the vaccines will be offered to other people at risk as soon as possible.
For more information, please see
- Why you have to wait for your Covid-19 vaccine
- The latest JCVI advice on priority groups for the COVID-19 vaccination on GOV.UK
Covid-19 vaccine deployment for unpaid adult carers
If you are an unpaid carer, you will be contacted soon to book in for your first vaccination appointment. The roll out of the Covid-19 vaccine for unpaid adult carers is being led by our partners in the NHS. For more information see the BLMK CCG website FAQ page.
How will I be identified?
- If you are registered as an unpaid carer with your GP. This means you have a ‘Carers Flag’ on your GP records.
- You are entitled to receive Carer’s Allowance. The Department for Work and Pensions will share this information with the vaccination programme.
It will be up to you to book the appointment. To book the appointment as quickly as possible, it will help to find out what your NHS number is. If you don’t know your NHS number you can find out easily through the NHS website.
If you receive Carer’s Allowance or if you are registered as a Carer with your GP Practice, you are now able to book in for your vaccine before you are contacted online through the National Booking Service or by calling 119.
If you fall within another priority vaccination group you may not be contacted as an unpaid carer as you will be or have been invited for vaccination through another route.
For more information about unpaid carers go to the carers page on the council website.
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Are the Covid-19 vaccines safe?
The vaccines have been shown to be effective and no safety concerns were seen in studies of more than 20,000 people.
Vaccines go through several stages of lab tests and clinical trials before they can be approved for use.
Regulators review the results of these trials to check whether a vaccine meets the required levels of safety and effectiveness before they can be rollout out.
See independent monitoring data confirms safety of Covid-19 vaccines.
Covid-19 vaccine deployment for frontline social care workers
Frontline care workers who have not yet received a Covid-19 vaccination can book an appointment through the NHS national booking service or by calling 119.
The roll out of the Covid-19 vaccine for frontline social care workers is being led by our partners in the NHS. For more information see the BLMK CCG website FAQ page.
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Resources and further information
Messages from NHS London - doctors, nurses and other frontline staff have come forward to help reassure communities that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and have been independently tested to the highest standards. These video messages are in some of the most commonly spoken languages – apart from English.
Messages from NHS London - doctors, nurses and other frontline staff have come forward to help reassure communities that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and have been independently tested to the highest standards. These video messages are in some of the most commonly spoken languages – apart from English.
General
- Commonly asked questions
- FAQ’s from NHS Bedford, Luton & Milton Keynes Commissioning Groups (BLMK CCG)
- Vaccine rollout in Luton - Rachel Hopkins MP
- How do vaccines work? - Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, NHS
- Nam Nguyen, GP and Clinical Lead at the NHS website, shares information about the coronavirus vaccine, latest guidance for the holiday season and how to get a free NHS test to check if you have coronavirus.
- Coronavirus vaccination- guide of for older people
- National COVID-19 vaccine roll-out video
- How did we develop a COVID-19 vaccine so quickly?
- How do I know the vaccine is safe?
- Who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in the UK and how are the priority groups decided?
- Why should everyone be encouraged to have the vaccine?
- Should eligible older adults have the COVID-19 vaccine?
- The route to a COVID-19 vaccine
- If I have an underlying health condition or am immunosuppressed, can I have the COVID-19 vaccine?
- If I have allergies is it still safe to have the COVID-19 vaccine?
- What should I do if I missed my vaccination appointment?
- Should I still follow the guidance after I have had two doses of vaccine?
- COVID-19: How important is it to have two doses of the vaccine?
- COVID-19 vaccination: guide for Clinically Extremely Vulnerable and pregnant healthcare staff
- England cricket team asks Professor Jonathon Van Tam some questions about the COVID -19 Vaccine
More video FAQs
Vaccine science
- How do viral vaccines work?
- Why do the COVID-19 vaccines focus on the spike protein?
- How does the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine work?
- Can the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine give me COVID-19 infection?
- What is an mRNA vaccine and how does it work?
- Can the mRNA inside the vaccine change people's DNA or affect their fertility?
- What is an mRNA vaccine and how does it work?
- How a vaccine works?
- What data is available so far on the COVID-19 vaccines?
Fertility
- Can the COVID-19 vaccines affect my fertility?
- COVID-19 vaccine guide for women of childbearing age or are planning a pregnancy
Occupational health
- COVID-19 vaccination: occupational health - guide to side effects
- Should I have the vaccine if I have already had COVID-19?
- Occupational health - who should and who should not have the vaccine?
- Poster: be alert to vaccine fraud
- Guide: be alert to vaccine fraud
Others
- Anthony Harnden explains how catching the infection has affected him
- Should the COVID-19 vaccines give us hope for the future end of this pandemic?
- COVID-19 vaccine: what is your general practice doing for the vaccine rollout?
- Which patients are you going to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine to?
- COVID-19 vaccines: how are we working with experts to create training for the vaccine workforce?
- How was the COVID-19 vaccine rolled out so quickly?
- What is the best way to use the COVID-19 vaccine and help end the pandemic?
- How the COVID-19 vaccination roll out is taking place
- Where are we going to vaccinate people?
- How does the JCVI decide and implement who gets the vaccine?
- COVID-19 vaccination: an unprecedented programme driven by experience
- COVID-19 vaccine: How is everyone working together to roll out the vaccine to the population?
- Considering the wider determinants of health when rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine
- What are the easiest ways to get vaccinated?
Health and social care workers
- Resources to support vaccine uptake in Adult Social Care
- COVID-19 Vaccine information for Health & Social Care Workers
- BLMK CCG FAQS for health and social care staff
- As a GP what would you say to health professionals about having the vaccine?
- If I have the vaccine can I stop wearing my PPE?
- As a GP what would you say to social care workers about having their COVID-19 vaccine?
- Why are frontline healthcare workers one of the first groups to be vaccinated in the UK?
- COVID-19 vaccination: protecting care homes and social care staff
- Why should social care staff and care home workers have the vaccine?
- This video explains the role of the JCVI in informing health departments on how to use the vaccine to protect the most vulnerable.
- Does having the COVID-19 vaccine mean we can change the way we work during the pandemic?
Minority groups
- Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among minority ethnic groups report
- British Asians dispelling COVID vaccine myths
- Do the COVID-19 vaccines contain any pork products?
- How important is it for people from deprived or minority backgrounds to get the vaccine?
Black and Black British
- CAHN Health Hours
- Bedfordshire GP, Dr Linus Onah talks vaccine safety with BSL - Jan 2021
- Bedfordshire GP, Dr Dayo Kuku talks about vaccine safety - Jan 2021
- Bedfordshire GP, Dr Linus Onah talks about vaccine safety - Jan 2021
- Yewande Biala talks to Professor Kevin Fenton and Dr Emeka Okorocha about the Covid-19 vaccine
Muslim
- Top 10 Questions Imams and scholars get asked about vaccines
- Local clinicians discuss the COVID vaccine Inspire FM show (14 January 2020)
- British Islamic Medical Association(BIMA) COVID-19 vaccine resource hub
- Dr Mohammed Akhtar, NHS clinician and member of British Islamic Medical Association(BIMA): answers a host of questions on COVID Vaccine (15/1/21)
- Jamia Islamia Ghousia Trust video
- Ajmal Masroor shares his mather’s experience of getting the vaccine
- Cllr Khtija Malik -Portfolio Holder for Public Health shares a message in Urdu
- Dr Tahir Mehood talking about the Covid-19 vaccine
- Councillor Mahmood Hussain receiving the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine (in Urdu)
Christianity
- Why Christian’s need to say yes to a COVID vaccine?
- Pope states COVID-19 vaccine is the ethical choice for all
- Church of England-December COVID-19 vaccine update
- Immunisations and Religious practices
Sikhism
- Birmingham GP Dr. Singh shares COVID-19 vaccine advice
Other languages
- Covid vaccine scams in South Asian languages
- Dr Nighat Arif discusses COVID vaccine in Urdu/Punjabi
- A Pashto/Pukhto message for our elders about getting a COVID Vaccination
- Coronavirus Q&A in 5 south Asian languages (Gujarati, Punjabi, Sylheti, Tamil, Urdu)
- Videos on COVID-19 vaccine false claims around coronavirus and vaccines in five South Asian languages
- How does the COVID-19 vaccine work explained in five South Asian languages
- COVID-19 vaccination guide for older adults- available in various languages
- The South Asian foundation- variety of resources
- National social media messages in translated languages
- COVID-19 vaccination guide for older adults- available in various languages
- Local Luton GP Dr Sajid Mehmood talks about vaccine safety in Urdu
- Bedford GP, Dr Floriana Ellis talks about vaccine safety in Romanian - Jan 2021
BSL video
Easy-read resources
Local leaders and residents share their experience of having the vaccine:
- Luton's faith and community leaders call on people to take the Covid-19 Vaccine
- Luton Leaders dispelling myths about the Covid-19 vaccine
- Councillor Khtija Malik - Portfolio holder for Public Health receiving the Covid-19 vaccine
- The Mayor of Luton, Councillor Maria Lovell, encouraging take-up of the Covid-19 Vaccine
- Councillor Mahmood Hussain receiving the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine
- Cllr Javed Hussain encouraging take-up of the Vaccine
- Councillor Kashif Choudhry receiving the Covid-19 vaccine
- Luton Covid Community Champion Lorraine Parkinson receiving the Covid-19 vaccine
- Noelette Hanley from the Irish Forum encouraging take-up of the Covid-19 Vaccine
- Joan Bailey from the Holy Cross Church & the Caribbean Lunch Club having the Covid-19 vaccination
- Ishaq Kazi - Luton Council of Mosques - Encouraging take-up of the vaccine
- Imam Mohammed Igbal Awan encouraging take-up of the vaccine
- Mufti Abdul Hannan - Leagrave Hall Mosque encouraging take-up of the vaccine
- Father Kevin - Church of the Holy Ghost encouraging take-up of the vaccine