Get your Covid vaccination over the school holidays

It’s easy for the whole family to get their Covid-19 vaccines this Easter holiday. Make an appointment at Churchill Square or the Racecourse and you can all get yours while you’re out and about. Free parking is also available at both sites.

Covid hasn’t gone away and it’s still important for us all to be protected against the virus. Getting the vaccine should give your child stronger protection, prevent the worst effects of Covid-19 and reduce risk of infection to your child and those around them. This means your children won’t miss out on their education and the things they enjoy doing over the summer.

In Brighton & Hove appointments are available every day for anyone aged 5 or over. You can book online through the National Booking Service or by calling 119.

Anyone aged 12 or over can also find a suitable walk-in session to get their vaccine without an appointment. There’s plenty of availability.

Vaccinations for 5-11 year olds

Since bookings were opened for 5-11 year olds last week it’s encouraging to see that all the appointments have been booking up quickly.

More appointments are being added every day so please look on the National Booking System to find a time that suits you. If you can’t see a local service that’s convenient for you, please keep checking over the next few days, especially during the school holiday.

And if you do have an appointment booked, please try and make it. We are seeing some people not attending appointments and that vaccine could be made available for someone else with notice. You can cancel an appointment on the National Booking System website or by calling 119.

From Easter Monday walk-in vaccination will also be available for 5-11 year olds at Churchill Square if they are accompanied by someone who can give consent. Until then it’s only people aged 12 and over who can walk in, and vaccinations for 5-11 year olds must be booked.

Had Covid at the start of the year? Don’t miss out, get your vaccine now

If you’ve had Covid-19 you will still get extra protection from the vaccine, but you’ll need to wait before getting vaccinated.

Anyone aged 17 and under should wait 12 weeks after having Covid before getting a vaccine. If they had Covid over Christmas or in early January and missed out on getting their vaccines, they should now be eligible.

You need to wait 28 days after having had Covid-19 for anyone aged 18 and over, or those aged 5 or over who are at high risk from Covid-19.

We know there are many people who are due a Covid vaccine or booster. It’s not too late, get yours now so you have the best possible protection.

How to get your vaccines

• Aged 5-11: book online or call 119 to make an appointment. Vaccines are available at Churchill Square and Brighton Racecourse in the city. Parents or carers must be present for consent. From Monday 18 April, walk-in vaccinations will be available from Churchill Square for 5-11 year olds.
• Aged 12-15: book online or call 119 for an appointment. Vaccines are available at Churchill Square and Brighton Racecourse. You can also walk in at Churchill Square and other locations across Sussex if a parent or carer is present to give consent.
• Aged 16+: book your vaccines or boosters online or call 119 to make an appointment at various locations. Walk-in sessions are available from more locations than ever across the city.

All children aged 5 to 15 are eligible for two doses of the vaccine, with the second vaccination offered from 12 weeks (84 days) after their first dose, unless a child is at high risk from Covid-19 and then it will be from 8 weeks.

Free parking or transport

One-hour free parking is available for anyone getting a vaccine at Churchill Square and there’s also free parking at the Racecourse. 

A free transport service is available to help people who do not have the means to travel to their vaccination appointment and need help to get there and back. To book, phone 01444 275 008 from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

More information

For more information on the Sussex vaccination programme, including information for 5-15 year olds and a list of the latest local walk-in sessions, please look at the Sussex Health & Care Partnership website.