Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Last updated 07/04/2026
Please 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 36

Contents

Latest Information for Patients

Spring COVID-19 Vaccine 
If you're eligible for the spring COVID-19 vaccine, you can book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment online or in the NHS App now.

Vaccination appointments will take place from 13 April 2026.

From 13 April, you may also be able to get vaccinated at:
- a walk in COVID-19 vaccination site
- a local service, such as a community pharmacy or your GP surgery
- your care home (if you live in a care home)

How to get free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests if you're eligible

England

You may be able to get free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests if you're aged 12 or over and you're eligible for COVID-19 treatment because you're at highest risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 including if you have chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4 or 5, including people on dialysis or have had an organ transplant.

You'll need to tell your 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 eligiblity. 

Anyone collecting COVID-19 tests on your behalf will also need to give their name and address.

Find a pharmacy that offers free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests

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
If you are eligible for the free NHS COVID-19 lateral flow tests, you can collect them from a community pharmacy. Find a pharmacy near you.

Northern Ireland
Anyone in Northern Ireland can access free rapid lateral flow tests. 

COVID-19 symptoms

Find out more about the symptoms of COVID-19 here.

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 or have had an organ transplant.

Local NHS organisations are responsible for arranging COVID-19 treatments. The way you get treatment will depend on where you live.

England
Your local integrated care board (ICB) can give you more information.

Follow these steps to be considered for referral to treatment
1. Keep rapid lateral flow tests at home
2. Take a rapid lateral flow test if you get symptoms
3. 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/

Scotland
If you are eligible for treatment and have tested positive for COVID, contact the health board where you live to access treatment.

Wales
If you are eligible for treatment, you should contact your GP 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 treatment

Your GP will be able to assess your symptoms and if they are appropriate for you will be able to prescribe your antiviral medicines. If you have any contraindications to antiviral treatment, they may refer you to a hospital. This would be for an alternative form of therapy (sotrovimab) which needs to be given by injection in a hospital.

Northern Ireland
If you have checked that you are eligible for COVID-19 treatment and you develop any symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild, you should test as soon as possible with a lateral flow test. If your test is positive, contact your GP or GP out of hours service, who can refer you 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 England
In Scotland
In Wales
In Northern Ireland 

Further general information and daily updates can be found on the GOV.UK website and their living with COVID-19 page.

Previous COVID-19 Webinars

Vaccination 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 2021
NKF 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.

Published:

Updated:

Author: Stephen Emmerson

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