Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, WHO has worked with countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region on public health measures to slow or stop the spread of the virus. <br />Safe and effective vaccines are an important tool, in combination with other measures, to protect people against COVID-19, save lives and reduce widescale social disruption. <br />Countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region have already completed regulatory approval and started introducing one or more COVID-19 vaccines.<br />Through the COVAX Global Vaccine Facility and other mechanisms, WHO and partners are working with governments to facilitate equitable access to and distribution of an initial allocation of vaccine as quickly as possible.<br />WHO recommends that initial vaccination should prioritize groups at highest risk of exposure to infection in each country, including health workers, older persons and those with other health issues. Once COVID-19 vaccines reach priority groups, countries should vaccinate other priority groups and the general population. <br />It is important to get vaccinated as soon as it's your turn and continue practicing other protective measures. <br />Types of COVID-19 vaccine<br />The COVID-19 vaccines currently approved for use in the UK are:<br />• Moderna vaccine<br />• Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine<br />• Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine<br />• Janssen vaccine (not currently available)<br />Which vaccine will I get?<br />You cannot usually choose which vaccine you have. If you book online, you'll only be offered appointments for vaccines that are suitable for you.<br />Most people can have any of the COVID-19 vaccines, but some people are only offered certain vaccines.<br />For example:<br />• if you're pregnant or under 40 you'll usually be offered appointments for the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines<br />• if you're under 18, you'll only be offered the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine<br />You should have the same vaccine for both your 1st and 2nd doses, unless you had serious side effects (such as a serious allergic reaction) after your 1st dose.<br />Most people will be offered a booster dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or Moderna vaccine.<br />This means your booster dose may be different from the vaccine you had for your first 2 doses.<br />