Getting your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
When is your second dose due?
According to recent guidance by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the interval between doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines has been reduced to a minimum of 8 weeks.
Everyone who has had their first vaccine has a second vaccine reserved for them. Appointments for second dose vaccines are being offered to everyone who is due to have one, between 8 and 12 weeks from the first dose.
Your second dose will be the same vaccine as your first one.
Issues getting your second dose?
If you have issues getting your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you should contact the vaccination site where you had your first dose. Below you can see how to contact each vaccination centre, based on the Royal Greenwich GP you are registered with. If you need help finding the right contact details for your practice, please contact us.
Primary Care Network: Blackheath and Charlton
Practices
- Blackheath Standard
- Fairfield
- Manor Brook
- Vanbrugh
Blackheath and Charlton PCN Vaccination Site
Charlton House, SE7 8RE
Tel: Phone your practice
Primary Care Network: Unity Heritage
Practices
- All Saints Medical centre
- Clover Health Centre
- Mostafa PMS
- Glyndon PMS
- Plumstead Health centre
- Abbeywood surgery
- Bannockburn surgery
- Basildon Road surgery
- Waverley PMS
- Triveni PMS
Unity Heritage PCN Vaccination Site
Plumstead Health centre, SE18 1BH
Tel: Phone your practice
Primary Care Network: Riverview, Eltham, Greenwich West
Practices
- Conway PMS
- Valentine Health Partnership (Ferryview and Holbourne Road)
- Thamesmead Medical Associates (Gallions Reach and Heronsgate)
- Royal Arsenal Medical Centre
- St Marks
- Thamesmead Health Centre
- Trinity
- Everest Healthcare (Sherard Road)
- Elmstead Medical Centre
- Eltham Medical Practice
- Eltham Palace surgery
- New Eltham Medical Centre
- Burney street
- Peninsula Practice
- Plumbridge medical centre
- South street
- Woodlands
Riverview, Eltham, Greenwich West PCN Vaccination Sites
Wensley Close Eltham, SE9 5AB
Charlton athletic FC, SE7 8BL
Tel: 020 4542 8288
How to get your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
There are a few ways that you can get your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
By using the NHS National Booking System
You can maage your vaccine appointments on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/
You can also manage your vaccine appointments by using the NHS App on your smartphone: https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/nhs-app/
If you do not have access to the internet, or if the app/website is not working for you, you can call the NHS on 119 (free of charge) to speak to someone who will be able to advise what to do next.
At local walk-in clinic
If you are eligible for a COVID vaccination, you can get your COVID vaccination from a number of walk-in and pop-up clinics. First and second doses are available, but they will be offered if it is at least eight weeks since the first dose.
Please check the south east London CCG website for the most up-to-date list of walk-in clinics near you: https://selondonccg.nhs.uk/what-we-do/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine/pop-up-clinics/
By text or letter
You may receive a text from 'NHSvaccine' inviting you to book your vaccination appointments at a larger vaccination centre or pharmacy.
The text will be sent to the phone number your GP surgery has listed for you.
You may also get a letter a few days after.
If you receive a text from 'NHSvaccine' inviting you to book and you're not sure if it is genuine, you can wait to receive your letter.
Texts from 'NHSvaccine' are separate to any invites you may get from local NHS services such as a GP surgery or hospital.
If you're invited to book a vaccination at a local NHS service, you'll usually get a text or a phone call. You may sometimes get a letter.
You can choose to book your vaccination appointments at a larger vaccination centre or pharmacy, or wait to be invited to go to a local NHS service. More places are opening all the time.
If you miss your second dose
If you miss your second dose for any reason, speak to your doctor. You should try to get it as soon as possible, to ensure that it remains as affective as possible. You do not need to re-do the first dose.
If you refuse your second dose
The vaccines are not mandatory, so you could refuse the second jab. However, to get the best immunity the vaccine is delivered in two doses, so it would not be as effective if someone only has one dose.
Questions about your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine?
If you are worried or have questions about getting your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, get in touch. We can send you helpful information or signpost you to the right service.
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