NHS Grampian Covid-19 vaccinations

If you’re unsure about anything, or have any questions about the Covid-19 vaccine, visit NHS Inform or call the National Vaccine Helpline on 0800 030 8013.

This helpline is available 8am–8pm 7 days a week.

People aged 50 or over are most at risk, and the risk increases with age. Older adults living in care homes are at greater risk because large groups of vulnerable people are living together. The virus is highly infectious and spreads quickly. Health and social care workers are also at risk as they may be exposed to infection in a hospital or community setting.

NHS Scotland will only use a vaccine if it meets the required standards of safety and effectiveness. All medicines, including vaccines, are tested for safety and effectiveness before they’re allowed to be used. The safety of the vaccines continues to be checked while in use.

NHS Scotland will only use a vaccine if it has been through rigorous clinical trials and has been passed and recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). There is also a rigorous review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to establish independently whether the vaccine is safe and effective and should be authorised for supply in the UK.

The Covid-19 vaccines do not cause Covid-19. They help to build up your immunity to the virus, so your body will fight it off more easily if it affects you. This can reduce your risk of developing Covid-19 or, if you do get Covid-19, it can make the symptoms milder. The vaccine is also suitable for people with disorders of the immune system. The vaccines’ effectiveness will continue to be monitored as the vaccines are rolled out.

NHS Grampian will likely call or write to you to invite you to be vaccinated.  

No. You will be contacted by your local NHS health board to arrange an appointment as soon as is possible and in line with vaccine supply. We ask people for their patience and to take up their appointment when they are called. 
 

Yes, you can still get your Covid-19 vaccine even if you’re not registered with a GP practice or don’t have a Community Health Index (CHI) number. Please call the national Covid-19 Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013. 
 

The vaccine will be given as an injection in the upper arm. During vaccination, strict infection prevention and control measures will be in place. It will only take a few minutes to get the Covid-19 vaccine. The Covid-19 vaccine will be given in two doses. It is important to get both doses to protect yourself against Covid-19. You will be advised when to return for your second dose.

You should still go for your Covid-19 vaccine if you have a minor illness without a fever. If you feel very unwell, your vaccine may be postponed until you have fully recovered.

If you’re feeling unwell with symptoms of Covid-19, do not attend your vaccine appointment. You should self-isolate and book a Covid-19 test. This can be done at NHS Inform.  

Yes. Even if you’ve already had Covid-19, you could still get it again. The vaccine will reduce your risk of getting Covid-19. If you do get it again, the vaccine can reduce how serious the symptoms will be.

If you have recently tested positive for Covid-19 – even if you have no symptoms – you should wait until four weeks after the date you were tested to get the vaccine.

You should ideally wait seven days between the Covid-19 vaccine and any other vaccinations.

If you are taking specific medication and would like to understand if you can have a vaccine while taking it, please contact the National Vaccine Helpline on 0800 030 8013.  This helpline is available 8am–8pm 7 days a week) to find out more.

Please visit NHS Inform for information on receiving the vaccine during pregnancy.

No, but we recommend that everyone should get the vaccine unless there is specific risk, such as women who are pregnant or people who are allergic to the ingredients within the vaccines. It  is especially important  to get that vaccines if you are on the shielding list, this is because you are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill from coronavirus.

If you have any concerns about receiving the vaccine you can call the Scottish COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013 (open daily, 8am to 8pm) or visit NHS Inform.
 

Some people may experience side effects after the vaccine. It is important to get two doses of the vaccine, even if you have mild side effects after the first dose.
These are usually mild and may include:

• tenderness, swelling and/or redness at the injection site
• headache, muscle ache
• feeling tired
• fever (temperature above 37.8°C).

A less common side effect is swelling of the glands. This starts a few days after the vaccine and may last for up to two weeks. This is to be expected and is a sign of the immune system responding to the vaccine.

If you feel uncomfortable, take paracetamol. Make sure you take paracetamol as directed on the label or leaflet.

It’s quite common to develop a fever after a vaccination. This normally happens within 48 hours of the vaccination and usually goes away within 48 hours.

You do not need to self-isolate or book a Covid-19 test unless you have other Covid-19 symptoms or:

• you have been told by NHS Test and Protect that you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19
• you live with someone who has recently tested positive for Covid-19
• you live with someone who has symptoms of Covid-19.

If the fever starts more than 48 hours after the vaccination or lasts longer than 48 hours, you should self-isolate and book a Covid-19 test. This can be done at NHS Inform. 

As with all vaccines, you can report suspected side effects through the Yellow Card Scheme. You can report side effects of the Covid-19 vaccines online at Yellow Card.

You can also call the Yellow Card hotline on 0800 731 6789.  This hotline is available Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.

Trading Standards Scotland are aware of fraudulent emails regarding the administration of a Covid-19 vaccine.

The NHS Counter Fraud Services asks you to remember that the NHS will never:

• Ask for, or accept, cash for vaccines
• Ask for your banking details or identity documents
• Email you to arrange your COVID-19 vaccination
• Turn up at your residence unannounced

If you do receive an email, do not click on any of the email links or open any attachments. If you are in doubt as to the legitimacy of the email you have received please contact the National Vaccine Helpline on 0800 030 8013. This helpline is available 8am–8pm 7 days a week.

The National Cyber Security Centre has launched a Suspicious Email Reporting Service to make it easy for people to forward suspicious emails to them, including those related to Covid-19.
 

Trading Standards Scotland are aware of fraudulent emails regarding the administration of a Covid-19 vaccine.

The NHS Counter Fraud Services asks you to remember that the NHS will never:

• Ask for, or accept, cash for vaccines
• Ask for your banking details or identity documents
• Email you to arrange your COVID-19 vaccination
• Turn up at your residence unannounced

If you do receive an email, do not click on any of the email links or open any attachments. If you are in doubt as to the legitimacy of the email you have received please contact the National Vaccine Helpline on 0800 030 8013. This helpline is available 8am–8pm 7 days a week.

The National Cyber Security Centre has launched a Suspicious Email Reporting Service to make it easy for people to forward suspicious emails to them, including those related to Covid-19.
 

You can request a record of your vaccination status on NHS Inform website.