Private COVID-19 Vaccine in Edinburgh: What Happens at Your Appointment

Most people under 75 in Scotland are no longer offered a COVID-19 vaccine on the NHS, so a private appointment is now the main way for them to get one. It is a short visit, but people still like to know what to expect. What will the pharmacist ask? How soon after my last dose can I have it? What if I had COVID-19 last month, or I am allergic to something? This page answers those questions for anyone booking a COVID-19 vaccine with us at 129 Bruntsfield Place.

If you want the wider picture first, including who qualifies on the NHS and how the vaccine works, start with our complete guide to the COVID-19 vaccine in Edinburgh.

Who a private COVID-19 vaccine is for

A private vaccine is for people who are not eligible for a free NHS COVID-19 vaccine in Scotland. This winter the NHS offer is limited to people aged 75 and over, care home residents and people with a weakened immune system, so that covers most adults.

People usually book privately for a specific reason. Some are in their late sixties or early seventies and used to be invited. Some have a long-term condition, such as diabetes or a heart or lung condition, that is no longer on the NHS list. Others want protection before a trip or a family occasion, care for someone frail, or work in health or social care and are no longer offered a vaccine through work.

Check first: are you eligible on the NHS?

Before paying, check whether the NHS will vaccinate you for free. You are eligible if you are 75 or over (or turn 75 by 31 March 2027), live in a care home for older adults, or are aged 6 months or over with a weakened immune system because of a condition or treatment. Our page on who gets a free COVID-19 vaccine in Scotland explains each group. If you are eligible and book with us anyway, we will point that out before you pay.

How to book

You can book online using the calendar further down this page, call us on 0131 563 6824, or ask at the counter. You do not need a GP referral, and you do not need to be registered with Bruntsfield Pharmacy.

Before you come, find the date of your last COVID-19 vaccine if you can, since you need at least three months since your last dose. It also helps to bring a list of the medicines you take and to know whether you have ever reacted badly to a vaccine. Our vaccine is licensed for people aged 12 and over, so if you are booking for a teenager, mention it when you book.

What happens at the appointment

A vaccination is a clinical procedure, so the pharmacist checks a few things before going ahead. Expect to be asked:

• whether you feel well today, and whether you have a temperature or any symptoms of COVID-19
• when you last had a COVID-19 vaccine, and whether you have had any other vaccines recently
• about allergies, and whether you have ever had a severe reaction to a vaccine, a medicine, or an ingredient such as polyethylene glycol (PEG)
• whether you had inflammation of or around the heart (myocarditis or pericarditis) after a previous COVID-19 vaccine
• whether you take an anticoagulant such as warfarin, or have a bleeding disorder
• whether you are, or might be, pregnant
• whether you have a condition, or take a treatment, that weakens your immune system

If everything is in order and you agree, the vaccine is given into the muscle at the top of your arm. Say if you prefer one arm over the other, and wear a short-sleeved or loose top if you can. Most people are vaccinated in the same appointment. Depending on your allergy history, the pharmacist may ask you to wait for around 15 minutes before you leave. If something on the day means it would be better to wait, such as a fever, the pharmacist will explain why and when to come back.

Book a private COVID-19 vaccine

Choose a time below. A pharmacist will confirm at your appointment that the vaccine is suitable for you.

Book a COVID-19 vaccination online

Which vaccine you will be given

We use an mRNA vaccine, the same type the NHS uses for most people. COVID-19 vaccines are updated each year to match recent variants, and this season's version is matched to the XFG variant. It is licensed for people aged 12 and over. One dose is given, whatever your vaccination history, and you do not need to have had a COVID-19 vaccine before.

We only offer the mRNA vaccine. If you cannot have one, for example because of a known allergy to one of its ingredients, we will explain the alternatives, which may mean seeing a specialist rather than being vaccinated at the pharmacy.

How long since your last dose, or since having COVID-19

You need at least three months since your last COVID-19 vaccine, whichever vaccine it was and wherever you had it, including on the NHS or abroad. In the NHS programme the usual gap is around six months, and a longer gap tends to give longer-lasting protection.

If you have recently had COVID-19, there is no need to wait a set time once you have recovered. Please do not come to your appointment while you still have symptoms, though, so you do not pass it on. Rebook for when you feel better.

If you have allergies

Most allergies are not a problem. People with food allergies, insect sting allergies or allergies to most medicines can have a COVID-19 vaccine, even if those allergies have caused anaphylaxis in the past. Tell us about them anyway.

The allergies that matter are a severe reaction to a previous COVID-19 vaccine, or to an ingredient in the vaccine. Our vaccine, like other mRNA vaccines, contains PEG, which is also found in some laxatives, bowel preparations and steroid injections. If you have had anaphylaxis to one of those, or repeated anaphylaxis with no clear cause, tell us when you book. The safest route may be specialist allergy advice first, and sometimes vaccination in a hospital setting.

If you take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder

Most people on stable anticoagulation can have the vaccine as an ordinary injection into the muscle. National guidance says this includes people on warfarin who are up to date with their INR checks and whose latest result was within range. A fine needle is used, and firm pressure is applied to the site for at least two minutes afterwards, without rubbing, to reduce the chance of a bruise.

If you have a bleeding disorder such as haemophilia, vaccination into the muscle is usually still possible, but speak to the clinician who manages your condition first. If you are unsure, mention it when you book.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding

National guidance says there is no known risk from COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy, and observational data from large numbers of women vaccinated while pregnant has been reassuring. Pregnancy on its own is no longer a reason for a free NHS COVID-19 vaccine in Scotland. If you are pregnant and want a private vaccine, tell us when you book so the pharmacist can talk it through with you first.

COVID-19 vaccines can be given while breastfeeding.

After the vaccine

Most people go straight back to their day. A sore arm, tiredness, a headache, aching muscles, chills or a mild temperature are common and usually settle within a day or two. Some people notice swollen glands in the armpit on the side of the injection. Rest, drink fluids and take a simple painkiller such as paracetamol if needed, following the pack directions.

Protection builds over about two weeks. Rarely, mRNA vaccines can cause inflammation of or around the heart, usually within a few days. Get medical help urgently if you develop chest pain, shortness of breath, or a fast, fluttering or pounding heartbeat, and call 999 if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face or throat or difficulty breathing.

Your record, and your GP

We record which vaccine you were given, the batch number and the date. National guidance says vaccinations given outside a GP practice should be recorded and the record shared with your GP practice, so your health record is complete. Ask at your appointment how your record will be passed on, and keep your own note of the date. You will need it to work out when your next dose can be given, and an employer or travel company may ask for confirmation.

Having your flu jab at the same visit

COVID-19 and flu vaccines can be given at the same appointment, into different arms where possible, and side effects reported after the two together are similar to those after each one alone. If you are not eligible for a free NHS flu jab either, mention it when you book so both can be checked together. Our page on what happens at a private flu jab appointment covers the flu side.

COVID-19 vaccines can also be given at the same time as other vaccines, including shingles, pneumococcal, RSV and travel vaccines, with no gap needed between them.

What it costs

Private COVID-19 vaccination is charged per dose. Prices can change during the season, so we keep the current figure on our price list rather than printing it here. If your employer is paying, ask them how they would like the receipt.

Frequently asked questions about private COVID-19 vaccines at Bruntsfield Pharmacy

Do I need to be registered with Bruntsfield Pharmacy?

No. You can book a private COVID-19 vaccine without being registered with us and without a GP referral.

I have never had a COVID-19 vaccine. Can I still have one?

Yes. A single dose of the updated vaccine is given to people aged 12 and over whether or not they have been vaccinated before, so you do not need to start a course.

My last vaccine was four months ago. Can I have another?

Yes. The minimum gap is three months. The NHS programme usually leaves around six months, so if you can wait, a longer gap may give you longer-lasting protection.

I had COVID-19 two weeks ago. Can I still come?

Yes, as long as you have recovered. There is no set waiting time after an infection. If you still have symptoms, rebook for when they have cleared.

Will the vaccine stop me catching COVID-19?

Not reliably. Its main benefit is lowering your chance of a serious illness for several months. It gives limited protection against catching COVID-19 and no clear protection against passing it on.

Which arm will the injection go in?

Into the muscle at the top of either arm, so say if you have a preference. If you are having two vaccines at the same visit, they go into separate sites, preferably different arms.

Can you give me written proof of vaccination?

Yes, ask at your appointment. It is useful if an employer, a care setting or a travel company wants confirmation.

Related reading

• COVID-19 Vaccine in Edinburgh: The Complete 2026/27 Guide from Bruntsfield Pharmacy
• Who Gets a Free COVID-19 Vaccine in Scotland This Winter, and What If You Don't Qualify?
• When Should You Get a COVID-19 Vaccine? Timing, Gaps Between Doses and After an Infection
• COVID-19 vaccination at Bruntsfield Pharmacy

For everything else about COVID-19 vaccination this winter, see our complete guide to the COVID-19 vaccine in Edinburgh.

Reviewed by Ather Diab, Superintendent Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber (GPhC 2233707). Bruntsfield Pharmacy, GPhC registration 1042628, 129 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh EH10 4EQ. Last reviewed: 15 October 2026.

This page is for general information and does not replace an individual assessment. COVID-19 vaccines are prescription-only medicines and are only given after a check that vaccination is suitable for you. In an emergency, call 999.

Sources: UKHSA Green Book, chapter 14a, COVID-19, 10 September 2026; Scottish Government, SGHD/CMO(2026)18, 21 September 2026; Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, statement on COVID-19 vaccination in autumn 2026 and spring 2027; Summaries of Product Characteristics for the updated COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (electronic medicines compendium).