Vaccinated overseas?

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The North West Welcome Hub has been receiving queries relating to Covid-19 vaccinations from the BN(O) visa holders. We have worked with colleagues across health services to understand whether those vaccinated abroad are able to record their vaccination status and access boosters this winter.  

Boosters

We have been advised that anyone who has completed a primary course of vaccinations anywhere in the world is eligible for a booster if now resident in UK. They also must meet the current booster criteria, including the age and timeframes between the second dose and the booster. Boosters should not be delayed if the clinicians locally are satisfied that the individual has completed their primary doses overseas. Some vaccines administered overseas are not recognised in the UK. If your vaccine is not recognised, you may be advised to start a full course of vaccination with one that has been approved in the UK. Information on unrecognised vaccines can be found in this guidance for healthcare workers. 

Tell the NHS about your vaccination abroad

You can now tell the NHS about coronavirus vaccinations abroad by booking online. Follow the link to book an appointment to show evidence for any coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations you’ve had outside of England. This is so the NHS can securely update your vaccination record.

You can use this service if you:

  • are aged 18 years old or over
  • have an NHS number
  • have received one of these MHRA-approved vaccines outside of England – Oxford/AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty), Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) or Moderna (Spikevax)

If you wanted to access the booster before telling the NHS about your vaccination abroad, you will need to book the booster in via a local booking service – i.e. your GP, rather than the national NHS booking service.