A new service to speed up vaccine passports for people who had their COVID-19 vaccination outside of England has been launched in the region.
If a person (aged 16 years or over) has received a COVID-19 vaccination in another country they can now book an appointment to have their vaccine status added to their NHS records.
The clinic has been set up at the NHS Nightingale North East Centre so that adults can show evidence of any COVID-19 vaccinations received outside of England.
People must attend in person with their paperwork. The service is not available for those under 16. Those aged between 16 and 17 years of age will not be required to have a parent, carer, or guardian attend the appointment with them
People are being asked to book an appointment by searching ‘registering vaccinations abroad’ Tell the NHS about coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations you’ve had abroad – NHS (www.nhs.uk). or by calling 119.
Booked appointments will be offered at the below times:
Monday and Tuesdays 12-4pm, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 4-7pm and Saturday and Sunday 12-4pm
The following approved vaccines are those that can be added to the NHS record.
Oxford/ AstraZeneca (Vaxzervria), Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) or Moderna (Spikevax).
The Overseas Vaccination Resolution Service is currently not able to update CoviShield.
After providing photographic evidence (Passport or UK Driving Licence) and evidence of overseas vaccination records it will take a further three weeks for records to be updated.
Professor Neil Watson who heads up the COVID-19 vaccination programme for the North East and North Cumbria said,
“It’s really important that people have an accurate record of the vaccines they have received, the type they had and when they had it. For people who want to travel abroad, this is important to have sorted out well in advance of their trip.
We know there is a demand for the support because we’ve had enquiries from people who have received vaccines when they have had outside of England and wanted to have them recognised on their NHS records.”
“We are hoping that people will find it useful that they can speak to someone, face to face and show their evidence and speed up getting their records up to date.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Overseas Vaccine Resolution Service?
The overseas vaccination clinic provides an opportunity to ensure that anyone (over 16) can show evidence of any COVID-19 Vaccinations outside of England. This is so the NHS can securely update your NHS records .
What do I need to do if my records need updating?
You will need to book an appointment here:
Tell the NHS about coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations you’ve had abroad – NHS (www.nhs.uk). Search registering vaccinations abroad.
You can also book an appt by phoning 119 and asking for the Overseas programme.
Please note – the appointment is for you, someone else can not come on your behalf.
You must use the address you are registered with your GP and ensure they have the correct spelling of your name, sometimes the records will not update if your name does not match the HP records.
What times are available?
Monday and Tuesdays 12-4pm
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 4-7pm
Saturday and Sunday 12-4pm
Please note there are limited appointments, more will become available over time.
Where is the nearest centre in the North East and North Cumbria?
NHS Nightingale North East is next to the Nissan Offices in Sunderland.
Use postcode SR5 3HX for satnav and follow the Nightingale North East signs when you are close.
Parking is free. You can access the car park at Nightingale North East up to 30 minutes before appointment time. Our security staff will show you where to park.
What will I need to bring with me?
- You will need to bring photo ID in the form of a passport or driving licence
- You will also need a copy of your vaccination records showing where the vaccine was given, when it was given, what type of vaccine you had and proof of any first, second, booster or 4th dose.
What vaccines are you able to update on my records?
Oxford/ AstraZeneca (Vaxzervria), Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) or Moderna (Spikevax)
We are currently not able to update CoviShield
What do I do when I get to my appointment?
You will need proof of your appointment – your booking reference or details
You will check in as an overseas patient at the vaccination desk.
If I have not had my booster, can I get that?
Yes, you can have your booster as long as the timings are correct to have it.
How long will I have to wait before my records are updated?
Your GP records will be updated three weeks from the day of your appointment. There are government central checks that are necessary, and this cannot be speeded up.
If your records are still incorrect after three weeks please call 0191 8145680 and ask to speak to the person in charge.
If you have had your vaccination in one of the below countries and you have had Moderna, Astra Zeneca, Janssen and Pfizer, we will be able to update your records.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic people’s republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russian federation, Russian federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales, Yemen (South), Yemen (North), Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe