Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) is still around so it’s a good idea to keep doing simple things to protect our families and communities, especially those at the greatest risk of severe illness.

It is important to try to stay at home and avoid contact with others if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19. Find out what to do if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) or symptoms of COVID-19

Spring 2024 vaccination programme

Book or manage a COVID-19 vaccination appointment

Find a walk-in vaccination

Lateral flow tests for eligible patients

As of November 2023, eligible patients who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, can pick up free rapid lateral flow tests from a local pharmacy. This replaces the online and telephone ordering services for free lateral flow tests provided by GOV.UK and 119.  More information on who is eligible is available here.

When picking up lateral flow tests, the pharmacy may ask you questions about your medical history to confirm you’re eligible for free tests. If you have a copy of a letter or email sent to you by the NHS that says you’re eligible for COVID-19 treatments, please bring this with you. A letter or email is not essential, but it will help to more easily and quickly confirm your eligibility.

Someone else can collect free tests on your behalf. Anyone collecting free tests on your behalf should provide the pharmacy with your details and any relevant letters or e-mails about COVID treatments, if you have them. The required details include:

• The medical condition(s) confirming the patient’s eligibility
• The patient’s NHS number (if available)
• The patient’s full name
• The patient’s date of birth
• The patient’s address

How do I find a pharmacy offering free lateral flow tests for eligible patients?

As of 22 November 2023 40 pharmacies signed up to provide eligible patients with COVID-19 test kits in Cornwall.

You can find out if a pharmacy is delivering this service by checking on the NHS website and then searching for a pharmacy. Once you have found a pharmacy near you, under the section “Treatments and Services” scroll down to “Screening and test services” and check if they have listed “COVID-19 lateral flow tests (eligible NHS patients)”

Unfortunately the pharmacy search does not currently allow patients to search only for pharmacies offering lateral flow tests. This has been fed back to NHS Digital for improvement. Alternatively, you can find a pharmacy near you using the below list of pharmacies offering free lateral flow tests to eligible patients. Please note this list is accurate as of November 2023 and we cannot guarantee stock levels at pharmacies. There is also an interactive map available via Google Maps.

Helping people get fit to fight COVID-19

If you do catch COVID-19 being as fit and healthy as you can be will help limit the impact it has on you. The NHS and our partners are working to help those most at risk get fit to fight COVID.

COVID-19 is serious. It can take people months to recover. That could be months of discomfort and months off work. In the worst cases the virus is a killer.

Make a change and get fit to fight COVID

The fitter you are, the better you can fight off COVID-19. Even small steps are worth taking; and it’s worth taking that first step now.

Things we should all consider doing:

• Quitting smoking
• Losing weight
• Eating healthy food
• Getting active

There is lots of help and advice available; with many services specially adapted to support you online and over the phone. Click on the below links to access the help you need.

Get help

• Help to cut down on alcohol
• Help to lose weight
• Help to quit smoking
• Help to get active

No matter what your age or ability, Healthy Cornwall can help you lead a happier and healthier lifestyle. They provide support and information around weight management, healthy eating, physical activity, stopping smoking and healthy pregnancy.

Useful resources

• Eating well and building yourself up after COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccination for people who become newly severely immunosuppressed

If you develop a new health condition or have started treatment that severely weakens your immune system (such as bone marrow transplant or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy), you may need to repeat your first and second doses of COVID vaccination. Please check with your specialist and, if revaccination is required, please email ciosicb.vaccinations@nhs.net.

Feedback about vaccinations

Please use this form to leave us feedback about your COVID-19 (or other) vaccination.

Checking your COVID-19 vaccine record