NHS in Leeds issues serious warning about these Covid vaccine scams

The vaccine is free of charge and the NHS will never ask people to pay for the vaccine or provide bank details or PIN, people are being reminded.

Healthcare professionals from the NHS will also never arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine.

Dr Jason Broch, local GP and Clinical Chair for NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group said: “Please do not fall for COVID-19 vaccine scams; the vaccine is free of charge.

"If anyone asks for your bank account or card details, PIN or banking password, arrives unannounced at your home, or asks you prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents, then this is a sure way of knowing that is it a scam.

"Never give this information when asked.

“Protect yourself, your family, friends and neighbours by keeping an eye out and alerting people to these scams.

"It’s also really important to only use trustworthy sources when it comes to getting information about the vaccine and how you will be invited.

“Visit the NHS website www.nhs.uk/CovidVaccine or government website www.gov.uk/coronavirus for the latest updates and information.”

The NHS will never ask people to prove their identity by sending copies – by email or post - of personal documents such as passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips.

When people are invited to have their Covid vaccine by the NHS this could be a call, text or letter from a GP practice or a letter from the national booking service.

If people receive a call that they believe to be fraudulent, the advice is to hang up.

For those suspicious about an email they have received, the advice is to forward it to [email protected].

Never click on links or download attachments.

Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726 which is free of charge.

If anyone thinks they are the victim of a fraud, report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk

How you might be invited to your COVID-19 vaccine by the NHS

There are three ways you might be contacted by the NHS when it is your turn to be vaccinated.

Using a local GP service: GP services are working together in your area to vaccinate as many people as possible. You may be contacted by a different surgery to the one you usually go to.

Local hospital services: You might be contacted to have the vaccination as an inpatient or outpatient.

At a vaccination centre: If you live within 30 to 45 minutes of a vaccination centre, and haven’t already been vaccinated, you may have received a letter asking you to book an appointment online at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination. Or if you can’t access the NHS website you can call 119 free of charge.

If you can’t travel to a vaccination centre, or there is another reason you can’t book an appointment at the nearest vaccination centre, you can choose to wait until your local GP services contact you if they haven’t already. If this is your preferred option – you don’t need to do anything now – wait for your GP service to make contact.

Do not try to book a vaccination if you have not received an invite.

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