How will I be contacted about the Covid vaccine?
THE CORONAVIRUS vaccine rollout is in full swing and so far over 6.5 million people have received a jab.
Some of the most vulnerable people in society have now had vaccines from either Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford/AstraZeneca.
😷 Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the target is to give the first dose of the vaccine to 15 million people in the four-key groups by mid-February.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock last night said that over 70 per cent of the over 80s had now been vaccinated - meaning that the country is a step closer to protecting those who are most vulnerable to infection.
Mass vaccination centres across the country have opened and GP surgeries along with pharmacies will also be giving out the jab.
It is hoped more than 700 GP surgeries across the UK could be delivering the Oxford jab, which can be stored at fridge temperatures.
How will I be contacted to get the Covid vaccine?
All Covid vaccines are being given in order of greatest priority, according to the JCVI list, agreed by experts.
Those at greatest risk include the over 80s, care home residents as well as frontline NHS staff and care home workers.
With the roll out of the Oxford jab, the Government's aim is to vaccinate every care home resident by the end of January.
Meanwhile all over 70s, healthcare workers and the clinically extremely vulnerable should be jabbed by mid-February, under plans designed to bring us out of lockdown.
The NHS will get in touch with you when it is your turn to be vaccinated - you do not contact them beforehand.
As soon as it's your turn to get the vaccine, you will be invited either by phone or letter.
You will need to be registered with a GP surgery in order to receive the vaccine.
Can I buy a Covid vaccine?
At the moment, Covid vaccines cannot be bought privately.
The Government states the "vaccination is only available through the NHS to eligible groups and it is a free vaccination".
This is because no stocks have been made available to private clinics, with vaccines bought on a national level and only available as part of the NHS rollout.
Where will the Covid vaccine be given?
Yesterday another 33 mass vaccination sites opened their doors.
The new centres will mean there is a network of 50 jab hubs across England, delivering thousands of doses per day.
One of the chosen sites is The Black Country Living Museum, made famous as a set for hit TV drama Peaky Blinders.
The Victorian-era heritage site, which has previously been used as a backdrop for the BBC show, has been described as a “game-changer” for Dudley and the surrounding area.
Other locations opening their doors to help deliver the Government’s national Covid-19 vaccination rollout from today include a race course, a show ground, a football stadium and a former Ikea store.
The new vaccination centres will be focusing on offering jabs to health and social care staff on Monday, before opening their doors to other priority patients on Tuesday.
Most vaccinations will take place at the vaccination centres, however if people are unable to get to their nearest centre they will be able to have their jabs at GP surgeries and local centres.
Most read in Health
Only the Oxford vaccine can be given at these big centres.
The the Pfizer vaccine must be stored at -70C, and so delivery is limited to hospitals and centres where they have the appropriate storage facilities.
In contrast the the Oxford vaccine can be stored in a normal fridge an allows it to be stored easily by GP surgeries, speeding up the roll out.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
On its website the NHS states: "The vaccine will be offered more widely, and at other locations, as soon as possible."
Once the top four priority groups have been vaccinated by mid-February, the roll out will continue down the JCVI list.