Covid vaccine: When will you be eligible?

The NHS has begun the biggest mass vaccination campaign in its history to protect people against Covid-19.

So far, two vaccines have been approved in the UK. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the first to be approved for mass use in over-16s.

More than one million people in the UK have been vaccinated since Margaret Keenan became the first in the world to get that jab outside of a clinical trial.

Four weeks later, a vaccine developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca was also judged to be safe, and roll-out started in the UK on 4 January.

Broadly, vaccines are being given to the most vulnerable first, as set out in a list of nine high-priority groups, covering around 30 million people.

They are thought to represent 90-99% of those at risk of dying from Covid-19.

People aged over 80 in hospital, frontline health staff and care home workers have been the first to get the Pfizer jab at designated hospitals hubs across the UK.

The first Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccinations are being carried out in hospitals before supplies will be sent out to hundreds of GPs surgeries and care homes.

Vaccinating care home residents is far easier with the Oxford jab because it can be stored and transported at standard fridge temperatures.

This first stage of the vaccination programme covering the nine priority groups is likely to last until at least Easter.

The second phase of vaccination will focus on the rest of the population, mainly the under-50s, who are much less likely to be ill with Covid-19.

Teachers, transport workers and the military could be prioritised at that point, but more data on how well the vaccines are working will be needed before that decision is made.

Both the Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines require two doses to provide the best possible protection.

Initially, the strategy for the Pfizer vaccine was to offer people the second dose 21 days after their initial jab - full immunity starts seven days after the second dose.

But when approval was announced for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on 30 December, it was also announced that the policy would now change - the new priority would be to give as many people a first shot of either vaccine, rather than providing the required two doses in as short a time as possible.

Everyone will still receive their second dose, but this will now be within 12 weeks of their first.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca second dose should be given between four and 12 weeks after the first, while the interval between the first and second Pfizer doses should be three to 12 weeks.

The official guidance states that every person should get the same vaccine for both doses.

Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisations at PHE, said: "We do not recommend mixing the Covid-19 vaccines - if your first dose is the Pfizer vaccine you should not be given the AstraZeneca vaccine for your second dose and vice versa."

However, in the very rare circumstance in which only one vaccine is available at a vaccination site or it's unknown which product an individual received for their first dose, Public Health England says a different vaccine could be administered.

But this advice does stress "this option is preferred if the individual is likely to be at immediate high risk or is considered unlikely to attend again".

"There may be extremely rare occasions where the same vaccine is not available, or where it is not known what vaccine the patient received," Dr Ramsay said. "Every effort should be made to give them the same vaccine, but where this is not possible it is better to give a second dose of another vaccine than not at all."

Around one million people in the UK have now had their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

According to the NHS, this includes more than one in five people over the age of 80.

There are 530,000 doses of the Oxford jab available this week, with a similar number of Pfizer ones also ready to go.

In total, the UK has ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and 30 million of the Pfizer vaccine, which will be shared out fairly among the four nations.

They will be delivered in batches over the coming weeks and months once they have been quality checked by the regulator, the MHRA.

You'll be invited to book an appointment to get a vaccine as soon as it's your turn, probably by phone or letter.

Vaccinations will take place:

The NHS is recruiting 30,000 volunteers to help with the rollout, including lifeguards, airline staff and students - who will be trained to give the jabs.

Around 700 vaccination sites are currently in operation, including hospitals and GP surgeries. This will be expanded to more than 1,000 - with each local area having a designated site.

GPs and local vaccination services have been asked to ensure every care home resident in their local area is vaccinated by the end of January.

The eventual aim is that as many people as possible over the age of 16 receive a Covid-19 vaccine.

It won't be compulsory, though - no other vaccines in the UK are - as experts say this wouldn't help create confidence in the vaccine.

The government has so far ordered seven different types of vaccine and expects to receive 355 million doses.

If everyone needs two doses, that would certainly be enough for every adult in the UK.

Experts have concluded that both vaccines are very effective, and have not stipulated a preference for either one in any specific population.

Anyone with a previous history of allergic reactions to the ingredients of the vaccine should not receive it, but those with any other allergies such as a food allergy can now have the vaccine.

A severe allergic reaction - known as anaphylaxis - is a very rare side-effect with any vaccine, but it can happen in those at risk. Most people, however, will not be affected in any way.

The medical regulator, the MHRA, says anyone due to receive their vaccine should discuss any medical history of serious allergies with their healthcare professional beforehand.

Vaccination with either vaccine should only be considered for pregnant women when the potential benefits outweigh any potential risks - for instance where the risk of exposure to coronavirus is high and cannot be avoided, or where the woman has underlying health conditions that put her at high risk of complications of Covid-19.

Women should discuss the benefits and risks of having the vaccine with their healthcare professional and reach a joint decision based on individual circumstances.

Women who are breastfeeding can be given the vaccine.

There are no specific safety concerns with the vaccines - but they were not tested on pregnant women during the trials.

Pregnant women are likely to be low down the list of priority groups because of their age, and may only be offered a vaccine in the second phase in 2021.

No - this vaccine is being rolled out free to people via the NHS.

You can't jump the queue by paying for it, but there should be plenty of vaccine to go round.

If you're eligible for a flu vaccine, you should get it as soon as possible, particularly if you will also be in a high-risk priority group for a Covid jab.

Having both illnesses at once this winter could be dangerous.

At its last meeting, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended leaving at least seven days between the vaccines.