Covid-19 vaccine and mental health

On this page:

• How to access a vaccine appointment
• If you cannot go to get a vaccine
• Tips if you're worried about your vaccine appointment

How to access a vaccine appointment

All adults in England and Wales (aged over 18) can now book an appointment for a Covid-19 vaccine.

You can visit the NHS Covid-19 vaccines page to book your appointment. Your GP may also contact you to offer you a vaccination appointment.

If you cannot go to get a vaccine

Some of us may find it difficult or feel unable to attend a vaccination appointment. This could be for many reasons, such as a physical health condition or disability. Or it may be due to a mental health problem, for example agoraphobia.

In some cases, the NHS may be able to visit your home to give you your vaccine. Or they may be able to provide support for you to visit a site where you can have your vaccine. You may hear this called making 'reasonable adjustments'.

Visit these pages to find out more:

• Rethink Mental Illness has information on the Covid-19 vaccine and people living with severe mental illness. This includes guidance on what to do if you find it difficult to go out to get a vaccine.
• Equally Well UK has a guide to Covid-19 vaccination for people with severe mental illness and their carers. This information includes a section on having reasonable adjustments to make it possible for you to have your vaccination.

Tips if you're worried about your vaccine appointment

If you're feeling worried or anxious about getting your Covid-19 vaccine, you could try some of these ideas:

• Find out where your vaccination will be, so you know what to expect. It could be at a vaccination centre, a local health centre, a hospital or at your GP surgery. 
• Take someone with you. You can take a carer with you into your appointment if you need to.
• Arrange something to look forward to afterwards. For example, this could be a nice meal, a chat with a friend or a film to watch.
• Use relaxation techniques like focusing on your breathing, grounding techniques or distracting yourself with music or a book. See our pages on relaxation for more ideas.
• Ask what support there is. Your GP should be able to tell you if there's any flexibility in where you attend your appointment. At the appointment itself, the person giving you the vaccine may be able to use things like numbing cream if you are worried about pain or sensations.

This information was last updated on 25 June 2021.

References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information, see our page on permissions and licensing.

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