Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory infections. These can range from the common cold to more serious diseases.
COVID-19 is caused by a new form of coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). It was first reported in December 2019.
Published 27 November 2020
Last updated 2319 MarchMay 2021
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19 May 2021
Added link to the COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna PGD.
14 May 2021
Added 'COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report'.
11 May 2021
Added link to updated COVID-19 vaccination training slide set.
7 May 2021
Added 'Use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: JCVI statement, 7 May 2021'.
23 April 2021
Updated COVID-19 vaccination training slide set.
8 April 2021
Added the national protocol for COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna.
7 April 2021
Added Use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: JCVI statement and link to COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting document collection.
23 March 2021
Added 'COVID-19 vaccination: booking an appointment letter' and 'Letter from the Health and Social Care Secretary on COVID-19 vaccination phase 1 advice'.
8 March 2021
Added 'Priority groups for phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccination programme: advice from the JCVI'.
26 February 2021
Added updated COVID-19 vaccination training slide set link, 'PHE monitoring of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination' and 'Letter from the Health and Social Care Secretary on COVID-19 vaccination in people with learning disabilities'.
20 February 2021
Added easy-read consent form for adults and vaccine product information poster.
10 February 2021
COVID-19 vaccination training slide set updated.
9 February 2021
Added British Sign Language resources.
27 January 2021
Added 'Prioritising the first COVID-19 vaccine dose: JCVI statement', 'COVID-19 vaccinations and community-based social care workers', 'UK COVID-19 vaccines delivery plan' and 'Letter to the profession from the UK Chief Medical Officers on the UK COVID-19 vaccination programmes'.
15 January 2021
Added the use of human and animal products in vaccines guide.
14 January 2021
Added 'COVID-19 vaccine monitoring reports' to the surveillance section.
14 January 2021
Added 'COVID-19: enhanced surveillance of cases in vaccinated individuals'.
11 January 2021
Added COVID-19: vaccine surveillance strategy and updated COVID-19 vaccination training slide set.
10 January 2021
Added National protocol for COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1-S [recombinant]).
8 January 2021
Added easy-read resources.
7 January 2021
Added link to the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1-S [recombinant]) PGD.
31 December 2020
Added: Revised COVID-19 vaccination training slide set and Priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination: advice from the JCVI, 30 December 2020.
18 December 2020
Added national protocol for COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech).
15 December 2020
Training slide set updated.
11 December 2020
Training slide set updated.
11 December 2020
Added link to COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) PGD.
7 December 2020
Added information leaflets, consent forms and link to updated COVID-19 vaccination training slide set.
6 December 2020
Added 'COVID-19 vaccination: women of childbearing age, pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding'.
3 December 2020
Added 'Priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination: advice from the JCVI, 2 December 2020'.