If you have diabetes, we strongly encourage you to get your coronavirus vaccines. This is because people with diabetes are vulnerable to developing a severe illness if they get coronavirus (Covid-19), and coronavirus vaccines are the most effective way to prevent that from happening.
On this page:
- Who can get coronavirus vaccines?
- How do I get the vaccine?
- Are the vaccines safe?
- Vaccine side effects
- What the vaccines are made of
Vaccines are the safest, most effective way of protecting you from coronavirus and flu, and if you or a loved one is living with diabetes, it’s so important to check if you’re due a Covid vaccine or a flu jab. Not only do these vaccines offer individual protection, they also help protect those around us, so making sure you and your loved ones are up to date with your jabs will help everyone to stay safe.
Who can get coronavirus vaccines?
In August 2024, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) issued its advice for the Covid-19 vaccine programme in autumn 2024, and recommended that everyone living with diabetes aged six months or above should be offered a Covid-19 vaccine this autumn.
The Department of Health & Social Care has now issued confirmation that people with diabetes will be offered the vaccine from 3 October, 2024. This applies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
People living with diabetes have previously been offered a Covid-19 vaccine and flu jab in autumn, but in spring, the Covid-19 vaccine has only been offered to people who are immune suppressed, which does not include most people with diabetes.
Find out more about the groups eligible for the jab from the NHS website.
You should still have some protection against coronavirus from previous doses. If you're unsure about this or have questions about getting the jab, speak to your GP or healthcare team.
The relevant health services for all four nations will each separately determine how and when eligible people can access the vaccine.
In England, you will be able to book your vaccine from 23 September 2024 on the NHS App or at www.nhs.uk/bookcovid. You may also be invited to have a vaccine by the NHS, or you can ask your GP practice or pharmacy that offers vaccinations when you can book an appointment.
Stay up to date with the latest in your area:
If you have been recently diagnosed with diabetes
If you have developed a new condition, including diabetes, discuss your vaccination requirements with your diabetes team who will assess your needs.
Young children and infants
For the vast majority of children, coronavirus causes mild symptoms or sometimes no symptoms. But for a small group of children with health conditions, it can lead to more serious illness. Getting the vaccine is the best way to protect against this.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding
Your healthcare team should talk you through the risks and benefits of getting the vaccine if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. We strongly encourage you to get the vaccines if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Find out more about the government's advice on Covid-19 vaccinations: a guide for all women of childbearing age, pregnant or breastfeeding. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) also has guidance on coronavirus vaccines in pregnancy.
How do I get the coronavirus vaccine?
You may be invited by the NHS to receive a vaccine, but you do not need to wait for an invite – if you are eligible, you can ask your GP practice or pharmacy that offers vaccinations when you can book an appointment.
In England, you will be able to book your vaccine from 23 September, 2024 on the NHS App or at www.nhs.uk/bookcovid. Appointments will be available between 3 October and 20 December.
You can arrange your flu and Covid-19 vaccinations for the same appointment.
Get more information about how to get a Covid-19 vaccine on your local NHS website:
If you’re confused about what vaccines you’re entitled to or have any questions, speak to your healthcare team or call our free helpline on 0345 123 2399.
Are the vaccines safe?
We know that some people may still be worried about how quickly the coronavirus vaccines were developed. But this was possible because scientists, governments and industry all around the world focused their attention on this one shared goal.
All the vaccine trials included the usual number of participants and no stages of development and testing were rushed or skipped. The joint worldwide effort to find a vaccine allowed for funding and approval processes to be fast-tracked, and manufacturing to begin early. This, alongside using existing technologies in the vaccine development, is why they were developed more quickly than usual.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will also continue to monitor the vaccines over time and make sure vaccinations follow a very high standard. And it’s also useful to know that the vaccines have been tested in men and women of different ages and ethnicities, with a range of health conditions – including diabetes.
There’s no evidence to suggest that the vaccine will work less well in people with diabetes.
Vaccine side effects
Not everyone taking the vaccine will have side effects. If you do have any, they are usually very mild. They normally won’t last longer than around 48 hours.
The common side effects are:
- a sore arm where you had your vaccine
- feeling tired
- headaches
- aches
- feeling or being sick.
If you don’t feel well, it’s really important that you stick to any sick day rules recommended by your diabetes team. If you are concerned about symptoms, contact your healthcare team.
Vaccines and blood sugar levels
Taking the vaccine could have an effect on your blood sugar levels, some people have reported them going up or down.
When you get the vaccine, your body will start to produce what’s called an immune response. This may include your body releasing some extra glucose from its stores. This is nothing to worry about. Your body is just reacting to the vaccine because the vaccine is new to you.
Find out more about managing high blood sugars.
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Some people report significant hypos we are not sure why this is, but the advice for anyone having a vaccine is to test blood sugars more often.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction to vaccines
If you’ve had a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food before, it’s safe to have any of the coronavirus vaccines unless you’re allergic to the specific vaccine ingredients.
Your GP will talk this through with you if you have a history of allergic reactions and monitor you for about 15 minutes after the jab. Speak to your healthcare team if you’re worried about this or have more questions about your previous reactions.
What the vaccines are made of
The coronavirus vaccines do not contain meat, egg or any animal products. The vaccines are halal and kosher.
There’s a very small amount of alcohol in some of the vaccines, around the same as there is in bread. We call this negligible, because it won’t have any effect on your body. The vaccines are still halal because the alcohol in them is at a concentration of much less than 1%. The alcohol is there to preserve the vaccine ingredients, to make sure it works.
The vaccines contain the blueprints for making tiny fragments of coronavirus. This triggers the immune system to react and start making antibodies that are ready to protect you if you later catch coronavirus.
Vaccines also contain other ingredients which are added to keep them stable and help them work better. Common ingredients in the coronavirus vaccines include sucrose (a type of sugar) and salt. These are added in extremely small quantities and won’t have any effect on the body.
You can find out more about the different types of vaccines and full information on vaccine ingredients in the patient information leaflet for the vaccine when you are offered one.
