COVID-19 vaccine - About the COVID-19 vaccine

Like some other vaccines, levels of protection may begin to reduce over time. People who are at risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 are offered vaccination twice a year. These doses will help protect you for longer. 

Having the vaccine can help to reduce the risk of you needing to go to hospital due to COVID-19. 

Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives. 

Vaccines work by telling your immune system how to fight a disease. Your immune system responds to the vaccine and makes antibodies. Antibodies help your body to fight an illness when you catch it. Your immune system will remember how to make these antibodies if you come into contact with the disease. 

If you have a fear of needles, let the person giving you the vaccine know. They will support you. 

If you are eligible, the vaccine will be provided free through the NHS. 

The vaccine will be offered to people who are at greater risk if they get COVID-19. These are:  

• people aged 75 and over   
• residents in care homes for older people, and   
• anyone aged six months and over who has a weakened immune system.  

You will be offered the most suitable vaccine for your age and condition. If you are eligible, the vaccine will be provided free through the NHS. 

Wales follows Welsh Government policy on who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. This policy is based on evidence about who is most at risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19. 

A weakened immune system means your body cannot fight off infections as well as it normally would. This includes people who: 

• are having chemotherapy or  some types of radiotherapy 
• have had a bone marrow, stem cell or organ transplant 
• are living with HIV (at any stage) 
• have a genetic disorder that affects the immune system (such as IRAK-4, NEMO, complement disorder or SCID) 
• are having biological therapy to suppress the immune system (for example, rituximab, alemtuzumab or anti-TNF) 
• take (or are about to take) steroids for more than a month at a certain dose 
• are diagnosed with multiple myeloma or have a history of have a history of blood cancers, including leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma, and 
• take long-term immunosuppressive treatment (treatments that weaken the immune system) for an autoimmune disease (a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body). 

For more information, go to The national COVID-19 vaccination programme autumn 2026 (WHC/2026/009) | GOV.WALES (external site) or contact your GP or local Health Board (external site). 

If you are eligible for a seasonal dose, you will be offered the vaccine twice a year, usually in the spring and autumn. You should be invited to have your vaccine around six months (and not before three months) after your last dose of the vaccine. 

A spring dose will be offered between April and June. If you are unwell and unable to receive the vaccine between April and June, you may be able to have the vaccine in July. The autumn dose will be offered between October and January.  

If you are not yet 75 but will be turning 75 during the time the vaccine is being offered, you will still be called for your vaccination. You do not need to wait for your birthday. 

The NHS will contact you to let you know when and where to have the vaccine. It is important to attend when invited. If you cannot attend, please let the booking team know using the details in your appointment letter. They can offer your appointment to someone else and arrange a new appointment for you as soon as possible. 

If you think you might have missed the invitation, do not worry. You can speak to your GP surgery or local health board immunisation team (externals site). 

You can find more information on how to get the vaccination (external site). 

Other vaccinations: 

It is important to catch up on missed vaccinations. If you or your child has missed a vaccination, talk to your GP, practice nurse or health visitor. 

The COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time as other vaccines.  

If you are a parent or guardian with parental responsibility for a child or young person, you will be asked to give informed consent. This means giving permission for them to have the vaccine.  

In some cases, young people under the age of 16 may be able to give consent themselves. This is if they are mature enough to fully understand what is being offered. Parents or guardians should be involved in the decision wherever possible.  

The person giving the vaccine will always check they have the necessary consent first. They will be able to discuss the vaccine at the appointment and answer any questions. 

Hospital patients who are due for vaccination may be offered their vaccination in hospital if possible. Contact your local health board (external site) for more information. 

Residents in care homes for older people will be offered their vaccination in their care home. 

Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects, but not everyone gets them. Most side effects are mild and may last a day or two. 

The most common side effects can include: 

• a sore arm, swelling or redness where you had the injection  
• tiredness  
• headache 
• joint or muscle pain  
• chills 

You may have a mild fever for two to three days after having the vaccine. A high temperature is unusual and may be caused by another infection or illness. If you are worried, speak to your doctor or nurse.  

You can take paracetamol and rest to help you feel better. Follow the advice in the packet and do not take more than the recommended dose. 

For young babies and children, you can give a dose of the correct-strength liquid paracetamol. This may help reduce their fever. Read the instructions on the bottle very carefully and give the correct dose for your child’s age. It is not recommended to give liquid paracetamol before vaccination to prevent a fever. 

Children under 16 should not be given medicines that contain aspirin. 

Some people may get swollen glands in the armpit or neck on the same side as the arm where they had the vaccine. This can last for around 10 days. If it lasts longer, contact your GP surgery for advice. If you are due for breast screening (a mammogram) in the few weeks after the vaccine, tell the screening staff you have had the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Very rarely, inflammation of the heart has been reported after some COVID-19 vaccines. This is called myocarditis or pericarditis. It has been seen mostly in younger men within several days after vaccination. Most people recovered and felt better following rest and simple treatment.

You should get medical advice urgently if you have:  

• chest pain  
• shortness of breath, or  
• a fast beating, fluttering or pounding heart.  

Rarely, people can have a severe reaction soon after vaccination. This can cause breathing difficulties and they may collapse. This is called an anaphylactic reaction, and it can also happen with other medicines and food. These reactions are extremely rare, affecting less than one in a million people. Staff who give vaccinations are trained to manage these reactions.  

People who have an anaphylactic reaction can be successfully treated and usually recover within a few hours. 

If your symptoms seem to get worse or if you are concerned, call NHS 111 or your GP surgery. If you do get advice from a doctor or nurse, make sure you tell them what vaccines you have had so they can assess you fully. You can also go to  NHS 111 Wales online (external site). 

Please read the product information leaflet for more details on your vaccine, including all possible side effects. 

Hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 vaccines have been given in Wales. COVID-19 vaccines are safe.

For more information about the vaccine, including its contents and all possible side effects, you can look at the patient information leaflet (external site).

• Children 0 to 11 years (external site)
• Young people aged 12 to 17 years (external site)
• Individuals aged 18 years and above (external site)

A black triangle symbol on a vaccine or medicine means that it is being closely monitored for any side effects. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you or your child may get. 

You should report any side effects of the vaccine through the Yellow Card scheme online (external site), by downloading the Yellow Card app or calling 0800 731 6789 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). 

Very few people cannot not have a COVID-19 vaccine. Most people with allergies can have the vaccine with no problems.  

The vaccine should not be given to anyone who has had a serious (life-threatening) reaction to: 

• a previous dose of the vaccine, or 
• any ingredient in the vaccine. 

Make sure you tell the person giving you the vaccine if you have had a serious allergic reaction to the vaccine or its ingredients in the past. 

Vaccination is one of the best ways to help prevent severe illness from COVID-19.  

Like all medicines, no vaccine is 100% effective – some people may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination, but their symptoms should be less severe. 

Your levels of protection may begin to reduce over time, so you may need to have additional vaccines. 

The UK vaccination programme has been very successful, with millions of people vaccinated and thousands of lives saved. 

It is still important to know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, even if you or your child are vaccinated. For more information about COVID-19 visit Guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19 (external site). 

Yes, COVID-19 vaccines used in the UK can be given to eligible pregnant women, or those trying to get pregnant who are eligible. This includes eligible women who are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, such as those with a medical condition that weakens the immune system. 

If you are pregnant, you should tell the nurse or person giving you the vaccination. 

If you are trying to get pregnant, there is no need to avoid pregnancy after COVID-19 vaccination. There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines effect fertility or your chances of becoming pregnant. 

The current vaccines have been shown to be effective and safe, with no negative effects on pregnancy or the baby. Having the vaccine does not increase the risk of miscarriage. 

Yes, COVID-19 vaccines used in the UK can be given to people who are breastfeeding. 

After having a vaccine, your immune system produces antibodies. These are a natural substance that helps protect you against viruses and bacteria. These antibodies can pass into breast milk and may help protect breastfed babies. There is no evidence of harm to the baby and any traces are expected to be broken down with breast milk in the baby’s stomach. 

You do not have to stop breastfeeding to have the COVID-19 vaccine. 

The COVID-19 vaccine may be offered at your GP surgery, local community pharmacy, vaccination centre, or through a mobile team. If you are housebound or live in a care home and cannot get to a GP surgery or vaccination centre, there are plans in place for a mobile service to bring the service to you. Hospital patients who are due for vaccination may be offered their vaccination in hospital if possible. 

You will be advised where to get your vaccine (external site) once you receive your appointment. 

If you cannot attend, please let the booking team know so they can give the appointment to someone else. They can give you a new appointment so you can get the vaccine as soon as possible. The team’s contact details are on the appointment letter. You can contact your local health board (external site) for more information. 

The vaccine is given as an injection in the upper arm. For babies under 12 months, the vaccine is given by injection into the thigh. 

Yes if you are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination you should still receive the vaccine. Children who are 6 months to 4 years old who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine previously are offered two doses. If you have a severely weakened immune system, you may need to have more than a single dose. Speak to your healthcare professional, who will be able to discuss with you the number of doses to have.