Who can have a COVID-19 Vaccination?
The national vaccination programme is underway following the order of the official JCVI prioritisation groups.
At present invitations have been sent out to people in priority groups 1 to 4. This means:
- People who live or work in care homes
- Frontline health and social care workers
- People 70 years of age and over
- People 16 years of age and over who are on the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable register (ie who have had an official NHS letter advising them to shield)
The next phase will run from February to April, when invitations will be sent to the following people in priority groups 5 to 9:
- People aged 50 to 70 (but in order from oldest to youngest)
- People 16 years of age and older with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality. This means people who are normally invited for annual flu vaccines as well as those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.
How will I be invited?
Invitations will come as follows:
- by SMS mobile phone text or a telephone call from your registered GP surgery to the GP vaccination centre (Jain Centre), or…
- by an official NHS letter in the post saying that you are eligible to book into one of the national booking centres (Etihad Centre or Pharmacy sites). You may get a reminder phone call from the NHS Immunisation Management Service. This call will be from 0300 561 0240.
- Please be cautious of any scam messages from other sources. We are aware that some people are receiving suspicious calls and text messages offering the COVID-19 vaccination. The vaccine is only available from the NHS as above.
Where can I have the COVID-19 vaccine?
There are three main places in the community where vaccines are happening for people in this area.
- 1. The GP Vaccine Centre at the Jain Community Centre, 667/669 Stockport Road, M12 4QE. There is free parking and accessible access.
- 2. The national vaccination centre at The Etihad Tennis and Football Centre, 9 Sportcity Way, M11 3DU. There is free parking and accessible access.
- 3. The community pharmacy sites on Withington Road outside Everest Pharmacy, and at the Whalley Range Cricket and Tennis Club delivered by Wilbraham Pharmacy.
Other local venues may become available in coming weeks. We are currently working hard to finalise plans for people who cannot travel to a vaccination centre. You cannot currently have a COVID-19 vaccine at your GP practice but this may change in coming weeks.
Vaccinations are only available on the NHS and are free of charge. You cannot get a COVID-19 vaccination privately.
How do I book my vaccine appointment?
You can book into the Jain Community Centre using the invitation sms text from your GP practice, or over the phone when your GP practice calls you.
You can book into the Etihad national centre and the pharmacy sites if you have a letter saying you are eligible by going to the NHS website or calling 119.
www.nhs.uk/coronavirus-vaccination
If you are unsure about the vaccine
The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is safe and effective. It gives you the best protection against coronavirus. We encourage everyone to have the vaccine as soon as they can after they are invited.
If you are unsure about having the vaccine, please talk to people you know who have had the vaccine and ask them questions.
Here is a recent talk given locally at the Caribbean and African Health Network about the vaccine that you can watch on YouTube:
For further information see our Frequently Asked Questions news page.