As the coronavirus vaccine continues to be rolled out nationwide, many stroke survivors will be left wondering what it means for them. Below are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions. (via Government advice)

Should you, a stroke survivor, take the vaccine?

The Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA), following the strictest tests for safety and effectiveness. The vaccine has been tested on thousands of people through different phases of clinical trials and the MHRA has confirmed that this vaccine has passed its strict tests for safety, quality and effectiveness. If you are taking anticoagulation or statin medication your doctor will check that it’s ok for you to receive the vaccination injection. If you have any concerns, please discuss them with your doctor or with the clinician giving you the injection.

Priority groups for the vaccine.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advises that the following groups will be prioritised for the vaccine:  



3. All those 75 years of age and over  


5. All those 65 years of age and over  

6. All individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality. This includes stroke and TIA. Some stroke survivors may be in a higher priority group - see below.  

7. All those 60 years of age and over  

8. All those 55 years of age and over  

9. All those 50 years of age and over 

When will I, a stroke survivor, get the vaccine?

Obviously it can not yet be determined how long it will take for the vaccine to be administered and rolled out. However, stroke survivors fall under priority group 6 - this includes both stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA or “mini stroke”). 

Some stroke survivors may be in a higher priority group because of their age, because they live in a care home, or because they have another condition - such as certain cancers - which makes them clinically extremely vulnerable and at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus. 

How will I know when it's my turn?


If you have any more questions on how the vaccine rollout affects you, please contact your GP.