Putting Barnsley people first...
COVID-19 vaccine FAQs
This page is updated regularly. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccination visit www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine If you can't find the answer to your question below, please email barnsleyccg.vaccines@nhs.net
- Where are the drop-in vaccine clinics in Barnsley?
- How do I book an appointment?
- 3rd and 4th doses for immunosuppressed people aged 16 and over?
- I have a child (5-11 years old) who is at high risk, can they get the vaccine?
- I’m a health or care provider, when will I be able to get a vaccine?
- I've already had COVID-19, why should I get vaccinated?
- How do I get confirmation of my vaccination status?
- Is my GP giving COVID-19 vaccines?
- When will care home residents and staff get their vaccine?
- What happens when I go for my COVID-19 vaccine appointment?
- How many people have been vaccinated so far?
- Is the vaccine safe and effective?
- What is the current advice if you're of childbearing age, pregnant or breastfeeding?
- Why is it important to get your COVID-19 vaccination?
- Is the vaccine vegan/vegetarian friendly?
- I had my vaccine abroad, can I update my NHS record?
- Can I volunteer or help out at the vaccination centres?
- Translated resources
Where are the drop-in vaccine sites in Barnsley?
Priory Campus in Lundwood, Barnsley is offering drop-in clinics for 1st doses, 2nd doses, 3rd doses (for immunosuppressed) and boosters* for anyone age 12 and over.
*Drop-in clinics are not currently available for Spring Boosters or for 5-11 year olds - please book ahead for these clinics - see below for details of how to book*
Please check Priory Campus opening times and vaccine availability here.
Other sites are available in Barnsley, you can find them all here.Please check for age restrictions.
How can I book an appointment?
You can see when clinics are open by booking or managing your appointment online or by calling 119.
Please note: If you've had a positive COVID-19 test
If you're aged 18 years old or over and have had a positive COVID-19 test, you'll need to wait 4 weeks (28 days) before getting a 2nd dose. This starts from the date you had symptoms, or the date of the positive test if you did not have any symptoms.
If the someone aged 12 to 17 years old has had a positive COVID-19 test, they need to either wait 12 weeks before getting a 2nd dose, or wait 4 weeks before getting a 2nd dose if they are at high risk from COVID-19. This starts from the date they had symptoms, or the date of the positive test if they did not have any symptoms.
Please cancel and rebook your appointment for a later date if needed.
3rd and 4th doses for immunosuppressed people aged 16 and over
If you have received notification (letter or call from your GP) you need a 3rd or 4th vaccine because you are severely immunosuppressed people aged 16 or over can either take their letter to a Priory Campus walk-in session or book an appointment online or by calling 119.
At their appointment, severely immunosuppressed people will be required to provide a referral letter from their GP or specialist confirming their eligibility and the optimal timing of their booster as per JCVI advice.
I have a child who is high risk, can they get the vaccine?
Some children aged 5 to 11 can get a 1st and 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine if either.
- they have a condition that means they're at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19
- they live with someone who has a weakened immune system
Parents and guardians can book online or call 119 for all children aged 5 or over. Please bring the letter, email or text inviting your child for their vaccine if they have been notiifed at high risk..
Find out more about COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 on GOV.UK
If you're not sure if your child is at high risk, see who is at high risk from COVID-19.
Is my GP giving COVID-19 vaccines?
Your GP practice is working with other GP practices across Barnsley to ensure that everyone in the priority groups is offered a vaccine. All vaccines are currently being offered at the local vaccination centres and are not currently offered in a GP surgery, although this is subject to change in the coming weeks.
GP practices teams will be coming out to vaccinate people living in a care home and the Barnsley community health teams will be offering the booster vaccine to those people who are housebound.
When will care home residents get their booster vaccine?
The vaccination teams will visit all the care homes for older adults to offer residents the spring booster vaccine for anyone eligible.
From 11 November 2021 all care home workers, and anyone entering a care home, will need to be fully vaccinated unless they're exempt under the regulations.
What happens when I go for my COVID-19 vaccine appointment?
There will be a team on hand to make your appointment visit run as smoothly as possible. There are a few things you can do to help us:
- Please try to arrive as close to your appointment time as possible. If you do arrive early, please stay safe in your car until it is time for your appointment to help maintain social distancing measures. It is also cold at this time of year, so please wrap up warm.
- Please wear your face coverings as you will be entering a medical building.
- If you need help with mobility please alert one of the staff and we will help support you and navigate you through the clinic.
When you arrive, volunteer marshals will show you where to go and you will be asked to sign in at a reception area.
Once you have had your vaccination, you can leave straight away.
How many people have been vaccinated so far?
Figures for the total numbers of people who have been vaccinated in the UK and across our region are updated regularly and are available on the NHS England website.
How do I get confirmation of my vaccination status?
For all the latest information on getting your NHS COVID Pass please check the NHS website.
I’m a health or care provider, when will I be able to get a vaccine?
Front line health and care workers who meet the criteria as set out within the COVID-19: Green Book are part of the priority groups.
All current health and care services are now being invited for their booster vaccines, once there has been 6 full calendar months (180 days) gap from your 2nd dose. You can now book your booster two months after your 2nd dose for an appointment three months after your 2nd dose.
You will be invited by your employer (or the Barnsley public health team). You may also get an invite from the national vaccine service, based on the vaccine status on your GP record.
If you are a member of health and care staff, and you chose to book via the national vaccine booking system (online or via 119) rather than directly through your employer/public health, they may still need to record your booster vaccination status. Please check with your employer/public health to see how that's done.
Your booking will be for your Covid-19 booster vaccine only and not your flu jab. That will be offered/booked separately and will differ with each employer.
If you are a frontline health and social care worker who hasn't had your 1st or 2nd vaccine yet, you can easily get these by speaking to your employer or in the ways described at the top of this page.
Is the NHS confident the vaccine is safe?
Millions of people have had a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine and the safety of the vaccines continues to be monitored. Reports of serious side effects are very rare. Read more about some of the common side effects and how vaccines are developed.
Should people who have already had COVID-19 get vaccinated?
Yes, they should get vaccinated. We know that your body will produce a better and stronger antibody response if you have the vaccine than if you get the infection naturally. There is no evidence of any safety concerns from vaccinating individuals with a past history of COVID-19 infection, or with detectable COVID-19 antibody, so people who have had COVID-19 disease (whether confirmed or suspected) can still receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it is their time to do so.
People currently unwell and experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should not receive the COVID-19 vaccine until at least four weeks after they have recovered.
What this advice on why you should still get your vaccine if you have had COVID-19.
Why is it important to get your COVID-19 vaccinations?
Getting your COVID-19 vaccinations as soon as you can, should protect you and may help to protect your family and those you care for.
The COVID-19 vaccine should help reduce the rates of serious illness and save lives and will therefore reduce pressure on the NHS and social care services.
Is the vaccine vegan/vegetarian friendly?
Yes, the vaccines do not contain any meat derivatives or porcine products. If, and when, further vaccines are approved we will publish information about known allergens or ingredients that are important for certain faiths, cultures and beliefs.
What is the current advice if you're of childbearing age, pregnant or breastfeeding?
The COVID vaccination is the best protection against the known risks of COVID-19 for both you and your baby. You can be vaccinated against the coronavirus is you:
- are pregnant or think you might be
- you're breastfeeding
- you're trying for a baby or might in the future
Watch the video below for more information about getting a vaccine in Barnsley during pregnancy or speak to your GP or maternity team for more infomation.
Read more about the vaccine during pregnancy or breastfeeding here.
I have had my flu vaccine, do I need the COVID-19 vaccine as well?
The flu vaccine does not protect you from COVID-19. It is important to get all your winter vaccinations to give you the best protection.
Will the COVID-19 vaccine protect me from flu?
No, the COVID-19 vaccine will not protect you against the flu. If you have been offered a flu vaccine, please try to have this as soon as possible to help protect you, your family and patients from flu this winter.
I've had my vaccine abroad, can i update my NHS record?
Yes. The NHS offers a service which enables you to book an appointment to show evidence for any coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations you've had outside of England. This is so the NHS can securely update your vaccination record. You can use this service if you're aged 16 years old or over and have an NHS number. Visit the NHS website for more information and book an appointment.
Can I volunteer to help out at the vaccination sites?
Barnsley CVS is working with the CCG and our partners as part of the delivery of the local vaccination programme. They have an important role in providing marshalling, both inside and outside of the vaccination venues, and making people feel welcome. The role of a volunteer is vital in helping with the smooth running of the programme.
We've been truly humbled by the fantastic response from members of our local communities coming forward in large numbers to volunteer at the vaccination sites. On behalf of the vaccination programme, thank you to everyone who has volunteered their time, energy and enthusiasm so far and continues to do so.
We are still looking to recruit volunteers to assist at the local vaccination centres. To express your interest, contact Barnsley CVS via email at volunteer@barnsleycvs.org.uk or phone on 01226 812183.
I'm a registered clinician or recently retired and interested in being involved as a vaccinator at one of the vaccination sites, who do I contact?
If you are a registered clinician or recently retired and interested in being involved as a vaccinator to support the delivery of the local vaccination programme, please email us at barnsleyccg.vaccines@nhs.net with your details for follow up under the subject heading vaccinators.
We are a local business, is there a way that we can offer our premises for support with the vaccination programme?
We have received a number of offers of support from local and national businesses in relation to the use of their premises for the delivery of our Barnsley Vaccination Programme. Whilst we are extremely grateful for these kind offers of support, currently three designated sites have been agreed within the borough that already have the requisite infrastructure in place and at the moment the NHS locally are not being asked to identify more.
Translated Resources
The UK government have compiled translated versions of guidance on how to take a rapid lateral flow test at home.
Also available embedded in the blogpost in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified), Dari, Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Pashto, Polish, Punjabi Gurmukhi, Punjabi Shamakhi, Romanian, Slovak, Somali, Turkish, Urdu and Welsh.
There is now an Easy Read version of the guidance in English.
A leaflet on the second Covid vaccine for 16 - 17 year olds is available to download.
Versions of the easy read leaflet are available in Audio, Braille, English Large print and British Sign Language (video).