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Booking a Vaccination (Guide)

This guide outlines how to book a private vaccine or a vaccine through public health services on online platforms in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

This guide outlines how to book a private vaccine or a vaccine through public health services on online platforms in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

A picture of a person in white gloves holding a SARS-CoV2 mRNA Vaccine vial
A picture of a person in white gloves holding a SARS-CoV2 mRNA Vaccine vial

Ireland

In Ireland MRNA vaccinations are offered for free by the HSE

Eligibility

You are eligible for these if you are age:

  • 80 or older
  • 6 months or older with a weak immune system
  • 18 or older living in residential care facilities for older adults
  • 70 to 79 and did not get a COVID-19 vaccine in the previous 12 months

If the HSE know you fall under these categories they should contact you to recommend you get a booster vaccine

If you're age 18 to 59 and not in one of the groups above, you can still request a vaccine.

How to request a vaccine

You can request a vaccination by doing the following:

You will be offered an adapted Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as a booster dose.

Nuvaxovid (Novavax) vaccine is currently not available in Ireland. You can call HSE's Freephone (1800 700 700) and ask to be contacted when Nuvaxovid (Novavax) becomes available.

Finding a pharmacy

  1. When visiting HSE's booking site you'll need to enter your service area and your town to get the pharmacy that is closest to you that offers a COVID-19 vaccination. (Figure 1)
  2. Once you've found the pharmacy you would like to go to, click the book appointment button (Figure 2) and you will be redirected to the pharmacies page to begin booking your vaccination (Figure 3)
Title: Find a pharmacy giving flu and COVID-19 vaccine. Contact the pharmacy in advance to book a vaccine appointment. Some people have to pay for the flu vaccine, check the cost with your pharmacy. COVID-19 spring booster vaccines are available from 3 April 2025 to the end of May 2025. Find out more about the COVID-19 booster or flu vaccine. Select a service area. Type a town.
Figure 1: Search engine for finding your local pharmacy flu and COVID-19 vaccines on the HSE website

Allcare Pharmacy Blanchardstown Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, Blanchardstown, Dublin, D15 VY27 Map and directions - Google maps Phone : 01 820 0088 Website: www.allcarepharmacy.ie Email 1 : blanchardstown@allcarepharmacy.ie Email 2: blanchardstown.allcare@healthmail.ie For healthcare professionals use only. Flu vaccine being offered: • Children's nasal spray fiu vaccine • Flu vaccine for at risk groups COVID-19 vaccines being offered: • 12 years and over Book your appointment
Figure 2: Completed results of finding a pharmacy on the HSE website. Results show Allcare Pharmacy Blanchardstown

Allcare Pharmacy homepage for booking a free flu vaccine and private COVID vaccine.
Figure 3: Allcare Pharmacy homepage for booking a free flu vaccine and private COVID vaccine.

England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria is the same as for spring 2024, and similar to spring 2022 and spring 2023, with the addition of immunocompromised people in younger age groups:

  • adults aged 75 years and over
  • residents in a care home for older adults
  • individuals aged 6 months and over who have a weakened immune system

The eligibility is the same across the 4 nations of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

Availability

In different parts of the UK, the groups who qualify for a spring booster are the same but the dates of the campaign are slightly different:

You can book a vaccine via the NHS if you meet the eligibility criteria. There are private offerings listed below if you do not meet the eligibility criteria

How to book a vaccine via the NHS

  1. Visit the NHS vaccine booking page to begin booking your appointment (Figure 4)
  2. On the NHS page click the "Book a vaccination appointment"
  3. You'll be brought to a page that requests your NHS number or your name and postcode
    1. on any letter the NHS has sent you
    2. on a prescription
    3. by logging in to a GP practice online service
    4. by using the find your NHS number service (link opens in a new tab) (Figure 5)
  4. If you select "Yes, I know my NHS number" select that and click continue to be brought to the next page to enter your NHS number. If you select "No, enter my name and postcode instead" select that and click continue to be brought to the next pages that ask for your name and date of birth
  5. Enter your postcode and click continue
Book, change or cancel a COVID-19 vaccination appointment. Use this service to: • check if you need an appointment • book an appointment • check your existing appointment details • change your appointment • cancel your appointment. How it works: The service will check if you need a vaccination before you book. To change and cancel your appointment, you'll need the booking reference number we sent you. Book a vaccination appointment (Button). View, cancel or change an existing appointment (button).
Figure 4 - NHS COVID-19 Booking home page
Do you know your NHS number? Your NHS number is a 10 digit number, like 485 777 3456. You can find it: • on any letter the NHS has sent you • on a prescription • by logging in to a GP practice online service • by using the find your NHS number service (link opens in a new tab) Option 1: Yes, I know my NHS number. Option 2: No, enter my name and postcode instead Button: Continue
Figure 5 - NHS number search engine page.

How to book a PRIVATE vaccine via Pharmadoctor

You can book a private vaccine with PharmaDoctor here: https://pharmadoctor.co.uk/patient/service/covid-vaccination?ref=longcoviddatadive.org

Finding a pharmacy via Pharmadoctor

Pharmadoctor has a pharmacy finder to search for your nearest pharmacy offering the Pharmadoctor Private Covid Vaccination Service.

Price for a private vaccine via Pharmadoctor

Here is an estimated price list of the following vaccinations. Unfortunately Novavax is not being offered in the UK in 2025.

  • Comirnaty JN.1 (Pfizer/BioNTech) - £75-£90
  • Spikevax JN.1 (Moderna) - £75-£90
  • Comirnaty KP.2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) - £75-£90

Booking a private vaccine via Pharmadoctor

  • When you visit the Pharmadoctor page click "Find a pharmacy" and it will redirect you to the pharmacy finder tool. Enter your Postcode or location and select Covid vaccination and click "Search" (Figure 6)
Pharmacy finder - Once you've found the service you need, find the closest participating pharmacy here. Search: Postcode or location, Option: COVID vaccination. Search button. Option: With reviews, step free access
Figure 6 - Pharmadoctor pharmacy finder website page
  • Once you've clicked "Search" you'll be given a list of pharmacies close to your location. Select the pharmacy of your choice and click "Request an appointment"
  • You'll be brought to the form (Figure 7) to book your appointment. Provide the details on your requested date and time for an appointment. The pharmacy you requested will get in touch with you to confirm your booking, or discuss an alternative date or time (Figure 8).
  • To use Pharmadoctor services you need to have a registered account. Once you’ve requested your pharmacy appointment, they'll send you a confirmation email and ask you to set your account password, which takes just a few minutes.
Please provide details below on your requested date and time for an appointment. The pharmacy will get in touch with you to confirm your booking, or discuss an alternative date or time. To use Pharmadoctor services you need to have a registered account. Once you've requested your pharmacy appointment, we'll send you a confirmation email and ask you to set your account password, which takes just a few minutes.
Figure 7 - Request your appointment for PharmaDoctor (FORM)
Title: Appointment date and time. Service: COVID vaccine. Select date buttons. Select times buttons. Title: Number of adults and children. Adults 16 or over, Children. Please check this box if you are one of the attendees for this appointment.
Figure 8 - Appointment date and time Pharmadoctor form for booking your COVID-19 vaccine

How to book a PRIVATE vaccine via Dears Pharmacy

You can book a private vaccine with Dears Pharmacy here: https://dearspharmacy.co.uk/book-private-covid-vaccination-service/

Booking via Dears Pharmacy

The steps to booking the private vaccine on their site are laid out as follows:

  1. Select the branch you would like to visit
  2. From the dropdown, please pick the service you would like to book
  3. Enter your details and select the date and time that suits you best (Figure 9)
  4. Pay a non-refundable deposit for your booking
  5. You will receive confirmation of your booking via email
  6. When you visit for your appointment you will be required to pay all remaining fees
Book an appointment. BRANCH - Dears Pharmacy Lochgelly. 67 Bank Street, Lochgelly, KY5 9QN. SERVICE: Private COVID vaccination service (Pfzier). 15 minutes. Pfzier Comirnaty Vaccine KP2. Price £85.00. £85.00 deposit.
Figure 9 - Dears Pharmacy Booking appointment for COVID-19

Availability

Dears Pharmacy only have the Pfizer Comirnaty KP2 vaccine available and it is priced at £85.

How to book a PRIVATE vaccine via Treat Local

You can book a private vaccine with Treat Local here: https://www.treatlocal.co.uk/private-covid-vaccine

Booking via Treat Local

Treat Local can help you find a your local pharmacy that offers private Covid vaccinations

  1. When you click the link to the website, enter your postcode and click "Search Clinics" (Figure 10)
  2. You'll receive a list of pharmacies near you that allow you to book a private Covid Vaccine.
  3. Select the pharmacy you would like to visit and click "Book Now". You'll be redirected to their form where you can begin entering your details to book the covid vaccination appointment.
Treat Local. Private Covid Vaccine. Find your nearest private covid vaccination clinic. Your postcode e.e. N1 OGD. Search Clinics button
Figure 10 - Treat Local Page for booking a private covid vaccine.

Prices via Treat Local

The pricing for the vaccination is not listed on the site but similar to Pharmadoctor's general pricing, it will be between £75 - £90 for the appointment.

CREDIT: Image by Spencer Davis from Pixabay

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Jamie Larson
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