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What is the COVID-19 vaccine?
The COVID-19 vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine that provides the best protection against COVID-19, a type of coronavirus. Research has shown the vaccine helps:
- reduce your risk of getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19
- reduce your risk of catching or spreading COVID-19 to others more at risk, such as vulnerable or elderly family members
- protect against COVID-19 variants
- reduce your risk of suffering from lasting health issues such as long COVID
- enhance your protection if you suffered a previous COVID-19 infection
There are currently 6 COVID-19 vaccines approved in the UK by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). In Cornwall we mainly use Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, however, all vaccines used have passed vigorous clinical trials and have been approved in the UK. You cannot usually choose which vaccine you have but you will only be offered a vaccine that is suitable for you. Over the last two years in the UK and across the world, billions of people have been successfully and safely vaccinated against COVID-19.
Why get vaccinated against COVID-19?
While restrictions have ended COVID-19 has not gone away. We are likely to see regular peaks of COVID-19 cases and new variants emerging for some time to come, especially during winter time when we spend more time indoors. The lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine is available free of charge to everyone aged 5 and over. You can book a vaccination appointment near you or just walk in at a time that suits you at a walk-in clinic.
COVID-19 vaccine and booster eligibility
Find out the eligibility criteria for 1st, 2nd or booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Please click on the relevant link below.
Page last reviewed: 24 January, 2023