Quick Guide to Covid Vaccines

Who is eligible:
 All over 12 eligible for free Covid vaccination.
 All over 16 – 2 doses at least 8 weeks apart.
 Immunosuppressed 12 and over – 3 doses, 8 weeks apart.
 Clinically vulnerable 12-15 – 2 doses, 8 weeks apart.
 Young people aged 12-15 – in or out of school, 1 dose only.
 Over 40, clinically vulnerable, frontline health and social care workers (JCVI cohorts 1-
10 including unpaid carers) – booster dose 6 months after 2nd (minimum 5m in
vulnerable groups).

Vaccine choice:
 Ages 12-17 years – Pfizer/ Comirnaty*
 Ages 18-39 years – Pfizer/ Comirnaty or Moderna/ Spikevax*
 Ages 40 and over – any available product for primary course, mRNA booster.
 Pregnant women - Pfizer/ Comirnaty or Moderna/ Spikevax*
 Third primary dose for immunosuppressed - Pfizer/ Comirnaty or Moderna/ Spikevax*
*Astra Zeneca/ Vaxzevria may be used by clinical exception if high allergy risk or to complete
a 2-dose course.

Vaccine types:
Vaccine Moderna (Spikevax) Pfizer (Comirnaty) Astra Zeneca
(Vaxzevria)
Type mRNA mRNA Adenovirus vector
Shelf life 30 days after defrost 30 days after defrost Until expiry
Authorisation 12 and over 12 and over 18 and over
PGD and protocol 18 and over 12 and over 18 and over
Dose 0.5ml primary course 0.3ml 0.5ml
0.25ml booster
Dilution No Yes No
Observation 15 minutes 15 minutes Drivers only
Movement Fragile – minimise Fragile – minimise Moved as often as
movement. Maximum movement. Maximum needed.
6 hour total travel 12 hour total travel
time time

Information taken from Green book chapter 14a:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-the-green-book-chapter-14a