Covid-19 vaccines

If you’re 12 or over, you’re eligible for your free Covid-19 vaccine

Read updates on Covid-19 locally in Tower Hamlets from our Director of Public Health.

Young people aged 18 to 29 can visit our microsite developed with young people, for young people to provide all the facts on Covid-19 and vaccination.

Watch our new 'vaccine facts' video featuring common questions young people have about the Covid-19 vaccine, answered by a doctor.

Book an appointment

Local vaccine sites listed on this page offer the Covid-19 booster jab. There are a number of ways to get your vaccine - first, second or booster:

• through the national booking system
• through the council helpline on 020 7364 3030 9am 5pm, Monday to Friday
• walk-in for the jab
  

The map shows your nearest vaccination site and information on what type of vaccines are available, whether you can walk-in without an appointment and venue opening hours.

The following sections detail all the vaccine sites in Tower Hamlets along with options on how to book at each, and whether walk-ins are available.

Spring booster campaign

Covid-19 is still more serious in older people and those with a weakened immune system. Protection from the vaccine may be lower and may decline more quickly in these people. For this reason the following groups are being offered a spring booster vaccine.

• aged 75 years and over
• those in care homes
• those aged 12 years and over with a weakened immune system

The vaccine will be offered to those eligible around six months (not before three months) since the last dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

Appointments are available through the national booking system and locally at sites in Tower Hamlets.

Vaccines for children aged 5–11

Vaccines are also being delivered to high risk 5–11-year-olds at the Royal London Hospital and Albert Jacob House. More information on those who are high risk is available on the .GOV website.

Experts have now advised that parents of all children aged 5 to 11 years should be offered vaccination for their child.

Children will be offered the Pfizer vaccine. Each vaccine is a third of the dose of vaccine that is given to older children and adults. Children at greater risk of serious illness if they catch Covid-19 will need two doses of vaccine, eight weeks apart. All other children will be offered two doses of vaccine 12 weeks apart.

More information on local arrangements will be provided shortly, including details on which sites in Tower Hamlets will be able to vaccinate 5-11 year olds.

Sites that will be able to vaccinate children aged 5-11 will include:

• Queen Mary’s University London. Booking via the national booking system delivering vaccines six days a week
• East London Mosque (twice a week)

Vaccines for all 12–17 year olds

Vaccines are being delivered in community settings.

In Tower Hamlets sites that can vaccinate children aged 12 and over include Lincoln Pharmacy.

Appointments can be booked through the National Booking System. Due to issues with the National Booking System, children with medical conditions are not able to book using this system at the moment. Please accept our apologies.

Covid-19 vaccination bus

The council operates a vaccination bus, which moves around the borough to provide on the spot vaccinations for residents. The bus makes it easier than ever for those needing vaccination – whether first, second, or booster – to get their jab.

Locations where the bus visits are chosen to help support vaccinating some of the borough’s hard to reach communities but is open to anyone.

Along with getting vaccinated, staff on the bus can provide reassurance and information around vaccination to help support residents in protecting themselves.

Over the next week, the vaccination bus will be visiting:

Wednesday 17 August

• Watney Market, E1 2PR, 4pm to 8pm
• Meath Gardens, Smart Street, E2 0SN, 10am to 3.30pm
• Bethnal Green Gardens, 11am to 6pm

Thursday 18 August

• Shoreditch station, E1 6GY, 11am to 8pm
• Island Gardens DLR, E14 3DN, 10am to 8pm

Friday 19 August

• Watney Market, E1 2PR, 10am to 8pm
• Victoria Park, E9 7DE, 11am to 6pm

Saturday 20 August

• Spitalfields, E1 6AA, 5pm to 8pm
• Victoria Park, E9 7DE, 11am to 6pm
• Bartlett Park, E14 6TL, 12pm to 4pm

Sunday 21 August

• Spitalfields, E1 6AA, 9:30am to 4pm
• Columbia Road Flower Market, E2 7RG, 9.30am to 4pm

Vaccinations for children aged 12–17

Why vaccinate?

Vaccinating 12  to 17 year olds should help to reduce the risk of complications, reduce time out of education, and reduce the spread of Covid-19 within schools.

Children will be offered the Pfizer vaccine, which is the vaccine approved for children and young people over 12 years of age. This follows a thorough review of the safety, quality, and effectiveness of the vaccine in this age group. Very few healthy children and young people with Covid-19 go on to have severe disease.

How long after a Covid-19 infection should children wait before getting their jab?

Children should wait  for a period of time after getting tested Covid-19 positive. How long you have to wait depends on whether you have a medical condition or not or live with someone who is immunosuppressed.

Which children are in the higher risk group?

• If they live with someone who is more likely to get infections (for example, someone who has HIV, had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis)
• They have one of the these conditions that means they're at high risk from Covid-19:
  • A severe problem with the brain or nerves, such as cerebral palsy
  • Down's syndrome
  • Severe or multiple learning disabilities (or they're on the learning disability register)
  • A condition that means they're more likely to get infections (such as some genetic conditions or types of cancer)
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Haematological malignancy
  • Covid-19 clinical risk groups; chronic respiratory disease, heart conditions; conditions of the kidney, liver or digestive system, neurological disease, endocrine disorders, immunosuppression, asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen; serious genetic abnormalities.

Where can I find more information?

• North East London Health & Care Partnership Covid-19 vaccination
• Information and FAQs for schools, parents, guardians, carers, and young people on 12-15 vaccination

Includes frequently asked questions about issues such as consent and side effects.

• Children’s Covid-19 vaccination leaflets

Including the ‘What to expect after your Covid-19 vaccination’ leaflet for children aged 12+.

• Easy-read children’s Covid-19 vaccination leaflet

Easy-read guides providing information on Covid-19 vaccination.

• Pre COVID-19 vaccination booking checklist for parents

Contact

If you have any questions or need some moe information call our COVID-19 helpline

 Tel: 020 7364 3030