Covid 19 Vaccination Spring 2026

The NHS has opened the booking system today, 7 April 2026, for those eligible to book a Spring COVID-19 booster vaccination. 

The information below has been provided for North East London Cancer Alliance by Dr Oge Ilozue, GP Partner and Clinical Advisor for London Vaccination Programme, and answers questions about the Spring COVID-19 vaccination:

Why should I have a COVID-19 vaccination this spring?

Vaccines are a simple but important part of looking after yourself, as cancer and its treatment can weaken your immune system. This means that you are at increased risk of getting severely unwell from viruses.

Having your free NHS spring COVID-19 vaccine reduces your chance of becoming seriously ill, helps you recover faster if you catch the virus, and lowers your risk of needing hospital care.

Can the vaccine give me the virus?

No. The COVID-19 vaccine used by the NHS is ‘inactivated’, meaning it does not contain any of the live virus, so you ‘cannot catch the illness’ from having the vaccine.

But the vaccine may take two weeks to be effective, so if you catch COVID-19 in that timeframe you may become ill. That is why we encourage people to have their vaccinations as soon as they can.

What about the side effects?

You might experience flu-like symptoms as a vaccination side effect. But these are usually mild and show that your body is producing antibodies to protect itself.

More serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) are very rare. The person who vaccinates you will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.

How do I know these vaccines are safe?

These vaccines have been rigorously tested, are constantly monitored and we know that the benefits of having the vaccinations far outweigh any risk.

But it’s completely understandable that people may have some concerns about whether it is safe or right for them to receive the vaccines.

What if I still have questions?

“If you do have questions or concerns, I encourage you to speak to a trusted healthcare professional. This can be your GP, practice nurse, pharmacist, health visitor or consultant, all of whom can provide evidence-based information.”

Find out more on the NHS website here or call 119 free of charge.