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Coronavirus vaccinations

We're supporting the NHS with safe and efficient use of data and technology, as the UK delivers the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme.

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If you would like to be involved in this research, please complete the survey and a member of the team will be in contact with you, 

If you're a patient looking for information about the coronavirus vaccine, visit the NHS website.

Overview

The NHS is delivering the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme.

This includes making sure the right data and technology solutions are in place for vaccinations to be delivered safely and efficiently. 

The NHS is delivering the vaccine in 3 main ways:  

  • hospital hubs - NHS providers vaccinating on site 

  • local vaccine services – community or primary care led services which could include primary care facilities, community pharmacies  and walk-in vaccination sites 

  • vaccination centres – large sites set up for high volumes of people 

The national programme

The national NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme is led by NHS England and NHS Improvement. It involves departments across government, Public Health England, DHSC, NHS Digital and other organisations across the health and care system.

The independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) uses the best available clinical, modelling and epidemiological data to advise the government on:

  • which vaccine or vaccines the UK should use
  • the groups that should be prioritised to receive the vaccine 

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) manages the licensing and approval of vaccines.

Our role

Our role at NHS Digital is to:

  • define cohorts for vaccination, based on guidance from JCVI and NHS England on which groups are priority
  • send notifications of vaccine eligibility to people based on NHS England cohorts
  • provide a national booking service that enables people to book vaccination appointments through the NHS website, and staff at vaccination sites to manage and check-in people for appointments
  • continue to link national and local booking systems 
  • coordinate and assure third party systems to capture and manage vaccination events
  • provide and/or manage data flows and make sure they are shared safely and appropriately
  • oversee the clinical safety, quality and security of the solutions within each of the vaccination settings

Sign up to our bulletins to receive the latest tech and data updates from the vaccinations programme.

Data processing arrangements for the vaccinations programme

Data processing arrangements for the vaccinations programme

Please note that existing vaccination data flows and any additional information to support immunisation processes will continue beyond the COVID-19 Control of Patient Information (COPI) arrangements that expired on 30 June 2022.

The essential processing of such data is covered through the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Common Law Duty of Confidentiality in relation to direct care.

Training and onboarding

Training and onboarding information for users of the IT systems involved in the vaccination programme.

Training and onboarding resources

Booking systems

Find out about the National Booking Service and local booking solutions.

Information on booking systems

Point of Care

Information on Point of Care systems.

Point of Care systems

Data flows and resolving data queries

Find out about vaccination record queries, COVID Pass and the Summary Care Record application.

Access data information

Vaccinations data dashboard

Information for GPs on COVID-19 and flu vaccine uptake in their area, including downloadable patient invite lists.

View the dashboard

Data Security Centre assurance

We provide cyber security assurance for systems and services delivering the technology and data elements of vaccinations. Find out about the assurance process and get a summary of the findings.

Assurance information

Vaccination APIs

Provide information to NHS Digital relating to coronavirus (COVID-19) and seasonal flu 2020-21 vaccinations.

API information

Last edited: 15 February 2024 3:11 pm