Coronavirus (Covid-19) Last updated 26/06/2024Please see below generalised Covid-19 Government guidance. We regularly update the page in response to any further announcements or developments. For further information, please call our freephone helpline if you would like to chat to one of our advisers about your concerns - 0800 169 09 36Contents Latest information for patients How to get free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests if you're eligible COVID 19 symptoms How to get COVID-19 treatment if you test positive Reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection COVID trials and studies Previous COVID-19 webinars Latest Information for patients Seasonal COVID-19 vaccinations closedYou can no longer book a spring COVID-19 vaccination online or by calling NHS 119.The service will reopen later in the year. If your NHS record suggests you may be eligible for a further COVID-19 vaccine, the NHS will contact you. If you have a health condition or treatment that severely weakens your immune system, you may need additional protection before the autumn. This includes anyone aged 6 months and over. Your GP or specialist will assess whether you need an additional vaccine. They will make a referral and advise on when to get vaccinated around your planned treatment. They should help you find a local appointment. Speak to your GP or specialist for more information. How to get free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests if you're eligible England A new pharmacy finder on nhs.uk lists pharmacies offering free lateral flow tests to those who are eligible for treatment.When you collect your free COVID-19 tests, you’ll need to tell the pharmacy your: - Name- Address- Date of birth- Medical condition If you've been sent a letter or email from the NHS about COVID-19 treatments, you should show this at the pharmacy to help confirm your eligibility. Anyone collecting COVID-19 tests on your behalf will also need to give their name and address. You can no longer order free rapid lateral flow tests or PCR tests from the NHS online.Scotland You can order lateral flow tests and report results via the NHS Scotland test kit ordering portal if you are eligible for coronavirus treatments.Wales You can order free tests if you’re included in one of the groups who are eligible for COVID-19 treatments. Find a pharmacy near you that supplies NHS lateral flow tests. Northern Ireland You may be able to get a free test from a pharmacy if you are eligible for COVID-9 treatments. Free lateral flow tests are not available to order online or by phone. COVID-19 symptoms Find out more about the symptoms of COVID-19 in adults and children. If you have COVID-19 symptoms and are eligible for treatment, take a lateral flow test as soon as possible to ensure you get prompt accessibility to be assessed for treatment.For more information on how to look after yourself at home if you have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19 please visit here. How to get COVID-19 treatment if you test positive The NHS offers treatment to people with COVID-19 who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill including those who have chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4 or 5, including people on dialysis.Local NHS organisations are responsible for arranging COVID-19 treatments. The way you get treatment will depend on where you live. EnglandYour local integrated care board (ICB) can give you more information.Follow these steps to be considered for referral to treatment1. Keep rapid lateral flow tests at home 2. Take a rapid lateral flow test if you get symptoms3. If your test is positive call your GP surgery, NHS 111 or hospital specialist as soon as possible if your test result is positive 4. If your test is negative, do a total of 3 tests over 3 days For more information visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/treatments-for-covid-19/ScotlandIf you are eligible for treatment and have tested positive for COVID, contact the health board where you live to access treatment. WalesIf you are eligible for treatment, you will need to fill out the COVID-19 Antiviral Self-Referral Form (NHS 111 Wales). If you cannot access the self-referral form you can ask your GP or hospital specialist to refer you for assessment or you can call NHS 111 and state:- you have symptoms of COVID-19- you have tested positive for COVID-19- you believe you are in the highest risk group and are eligible for treatmentThe call handler will offer a nurse assessment for your symptoms. They may refer you to your local health board’s antiviral service for an assessment to ensure you receive the most suitable treatment for you.Northern IrelandIf you have one of the conditions that puts you at the very highest risk of illness should you catch COVID-19, you need to report the result if it is positive, to be assessed for a COVID-19 treatment.You should report your positive COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result at:Report a HSC NI COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result You should report your positive result and include your postcode and a phone number, to be assessed for a COVID-19 treatment. Reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection Please find below some supportive links for the people whose immune system means they are at higher risk:In EnglandIn ScotlandIn WalesIn Northern Ireland Further general information and daily updates can be found on the GOV.UK website and their living with COVID-19 page. COVID-19 trials and studies Stravinsky Study A 2 year study, the Stratification of Clinically Vulnerable People for COVID-19 Risk Using Antibody Testing (STRAVINSKY Study) aims to establish if antibody testing can identify which individuals remains at greatest risk of severe COVID-19 infection after vaccinations funded by National Institute of Health and Care research (NIHR). If you would like to know more about the study, details around recruitment and information on what is involved in taking part in the study, please visit the STRAVINSKY website.The PANARAMIC Study is now closed to recruitment. Although the trial is now closed, they will continue to support and collect follow-up data for participants until September 2024. The PROTECT-V study is now closed to recruitment. PROTECT-V is an international, multicentre study aiming to identify medications which protect vulnerable patients from COVID-19. The Melody Research Study is now closed. The MELODY (Mass evaluation of lateral flow immunoassays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in immunosuppressed people) study used home antibody testing to improve our understanding of responses to COVID-19 vaccination in individuals who are receiving immunosuppression. Previous COVID-19 WebinarsVaccination Webinar 7th February 2022 NKF partnered with Kidney Care UK, Kidney Research UK, Kidney Wales, Polycystic Kidney Disease Charity and UK Kidney Association to deliver a webinar regarding the developments in our knowledge about the Covid vaccines and treatments. We were joined by Dr Andrew Frankel, Dr Rebecca Suckling, Professor Liz Lightstone and Professor Richard Haynes. You can view the webinar here.Vaccination webinar 29th June 2021NKF partnered with Kidney Care UK, Kidney Research UK, Polycystic Kidney Disease Charity and UK Kidney Association to deliver a webinar regarding the developments in our knowledge about the Covid vaccines and how people with suppressed immune systems are responding, as well as a discussion about how to return to normal activities and cope with anxiety as restrictions ease. We were joined by four kidney doctors, Dr Rebecca Suckling from Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust, Dr Andrew Frankel, Dr Steve McAdoo, and Dr Michelle Willicombe from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. You can view the webinar here.The NKF partnered with Kidney Research UK in 2021 to fund a study to discover how well COVID-19 vaccinations work in people who go to hospital for dialysis.Information and guidance for renal professionals. Manage Cookie Preferences