COVID-19 vaccinations

In line with advice from the National Health Service and the World Health Organisation, we strongly recommend that students and colleagues should be vaccinated when they can.

Watch our video from our University of Reading experts.

All students, including international students, can access both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for free. Find out more on the NHS website.

Vaccine van on campus

The University is hosting an NHS ‘Health on the Move’ van on campus for first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine on the following dates from 10am to 6pm:

Monday 20 – Wednesday 22 September
Sunday 26 September
Monday 4 – Thursday 7 October

The van will be located in the layby in front of the ICMA Centre on Whiteknights campus.

The van will be returning to campus 8 weeks later to deliver follow-up doses, details of which will be confirmed later.

Who can get a vaccine on campus?

All students and staff over the age of 18 can receive their first or second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on campus, including international students. You need to allow at least 8 weeks from your first dose before receiving your second.

If you have received a first dose of a different vaccine (for example, Moderna or AstraZeneca) you should

book your second dose through the NHS website.

You do not need an NHS number or to be registered with a GP to receive your vaccine.

You must not break your self-isolation to visit a vaccination centre, if you are self-isolating due to having symptoms, testing positive, or being identified as a close contact. Likewise, if you are in quarantine having travelled overseas, you must complete your full period of self-isolation before visiting a vaccination centre.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 28 days, you should wait 28 days from the date you had the test before you get vaccinated.

How to get a vaccine on campus

Please book an appointment in advance through our booking system. If you haven’t pre-booked, a small number of doses will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day – so you can drop in.

You will be required to wear a face covering for the duration of your appointment. You should also bring your University of Reading student Campus Card. Those who have had one dose of the vaccine should bring the vaccination card they received at their first appointment.

The vaccine will be given by trained healthcare professionals inside the NHS ‘Health on the Move’ van, located in the layby in front of the ICMA Centre. Healthcare professionals and wellbeing teams will be on-hand to answer any questions you may have.

How long will the appointment take?

Please allow around 20 minutes for your appointment. You should arrive at least 5 minutes before your appointment time and wait for 15 minutes after receiving your vaccine. You will be asked to wear a face covering throughout the appointment.

Vaccination status

The University will not keep a record of your vaccination status and will therefore not be able to access or use any personal information about your vaccination status.

Please refer to the NHS Covid Pass website or download the NHS app if asked to prove your vaccination status.

Getting your vaccine elsewhere

Students registered with a GP can book their appointment at a vaccination centre, a community pharmacy site, or at some GP sites through the National Booking Service website or by phoning 119. You can find your NHS number using this tool.

You can book appointments for your first and second dose online through the NHS at a location convenient to you. You can choose to have your first and second doses in different locations if you need to. On the NHS booking website there is an option to book or re-arrange the second vaccination appointment at a different location to the first appointment if needed.

While registration with a GP is encouraged to access the vaccine, you can request to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments at an unregistered patient through a local GP practice.

Visit nhs.uk/covid-vaccination for more information about the COVID-19 vaccination.

Can I get a vaccine if I am an international student?

Anybody aged 18 or over in England is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination for free, regardless of their nationality or immigration status. While registration with a GP is encouraged to access the vaccine, you can request to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient through a local GP practice.

What if I have my first dose in England, but will be abroad for my second dose (e.g overseas placement, during the summer)?

I’m an international student, what should I do if I’ve had my first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination abroad, and it is not a vaccine that is being offered in England?

If you have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine overseas that is also available in the UK, you should receive the same vaccine for their second dose.

If the vaccine you received for their first dose is not available in the UK, the most similar alternative should be offered as per the advice on vaccine interchangeability guidance.

You should contact a GP to ensure you receive an appropriate vaccine for your second dose.

How can I get a COVID vaccine certificate?

Am I required to have a COVID-19 vaccine to study on campus?

We do not have plans to make vaccination mandatory for students or staff.

In line with advice from the National Health Service and the World Health Organisation, we strongly recommend that students and colleagues should be vaccinated when they can.

If you have received both doses of the vaccine, you do not need to self-isolate if you come in to close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, unless you develop symptoms or test positive yourself.

I have had both my COVID-19 vaccinations – do I need to quarantine when travelling from an amber list country?

The quarantine rules that apply will depend on where you received your two COVID-19 vaccinations and the amber list country from where you are travelling. Please see the UK government website for quarantine requirements for those vaccinated under a UK vaccination programme and the different rules in place for travellers who have been vaccinated under their own countries' vaccination programme. The website explains what a UK vaccination programme is. If you have not been vaccinated in the UK or in one of the official overseas UK programmes, then you are required to follow the full quarantine rules when travelling from an amber list country.