BCHC staff treating an adult patient

Services

Adults' Services

Adult Vaccination Service

AVS delivers COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible and high-risk patients who are unable to access community vaccination clinics due to being housebound.

About our service

The Adult Vaccination Service (AVS) is based at Nineveh House, Birmingham, B21 0SY. The service has been established for over five years and was previously known as the Test and Protect Service. 

 

The service was originally established during the COVID-19 pandemic to support the national response to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). Under the guidance of NHS England, the team delivered testing and swabbing services across Birmingham and Solihull. As the programme has evolved, the service has adapted to meet changing population needs. In 2026, the Adult Vaccination Service is focused on delivering COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible and high-risk patients who are unable to access community vaccination clinics due to being housebound. 

 

The service provides vaccination support for adult patients across Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield.

 

The Adult Vaccination Service currently delivers the Seasonal COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.

 

Vaccination programmes are commissioned nationally and may change in line with guidance issued by: 

  • NHS England 
  • The Department of Health and Social Care 
  • The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) 
  • The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) 

 

 

Our team 

The Adult Vaccination Service consists of: 

  • Clinical Lead.
  • Deputy Clinical Lead.
  • Project Support Manager. 
  • Coordinator Assistant.

 

In addition to the core team, the service is supported by a team of clinical vaccinators from University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB). Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) and UHB work closely together to promote vaccination uptake, administer vaccines safely and effectively, and support the operational management of vaccination programmes. The service also works in partnership with the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB), which helps coordinate seasonal vaccination programmes, directs booster campaigns and works collaboratively with GP practices across the community.

 

 

Service activity

To date, the Adult Vaccination Service has administered over 40,599 vaccinations. 

 

During the last 12 months the team has:

  • Visited more than 9,000 households. 
  • Vaccinated 8,382 patients in their own homes.

These figures demonstrate the service’s commitment to improving access to vaccinations for some of the most vulnerable members of our community. 

 

 

How and where is the service delivered? 

Referrals received from GP practices are allocated according to locality. Once a referral has been received and eligibility confirmed, our administration team will contact the patient to arrange a convenient appointment date and time.

 

The service is delivered in the comfort of the patient’s own home.

 

The Adult Vaccination Service is currently working closely with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to develop a city-wide vaccination model and explore opportunities to expand service accessibility in the future. 

 

 

Eligibility criteria and referrals

The Adult Vaccination Service is currently available only to patients who are registered as housebound and referrals can be made through GPs only.

Eligibility criteria for housebound patients

The Adult Vaccination Service is currently available only to patients who are registered as housebound. 

 

To access the service: 

  • Patients must be referred by their GP practice. 
  • Patients must have an active housebound status recorded on their clinical record. 
  • Referring GP practices must be opted into the service via the Integrated Care Board (ICB) 
  • You must also meet the national eligibility for the COVID vaccine.

Once a referral has been received, the Adult Vaccination Service administration team will review and confirm eligibility before arranging an appointment. 

 

GPs can refer by:

 

Please note: patients cannot self-refer, and healthcare professionals cannot refer directly to the Adult Vaccination Service. GP referrals only. 

If the patient is not housebound, they may still be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine through the NHS national programme.

Advice for non-housebound patients

If you are not housebound, you may still be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination through the National Booking System. 

 

The NHS will usually invite eligible individuals to come forward; however, you do not need to wait for an invitation before booking your vaccination. 

 

The National Booking System is expected to open from 1 October 2026 for the Winter COVID-19 Booster Programme. 

 

If you or someone you know cannot access the internet, vaccinations can be booked by calling 119 free of charge. Translation services are available if required. 

Both housebound patients accessing the Adult Vaccination Service and non-housebound patients accessing the national programme are required to meet national eligibility requirements.

Autumn / Winter 2026 COVID-19 vaccination eligibility

The UK Government has accepted advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) regarding eligibility for the Autumn/Winter 2026 COVID-19 vaccination programme. 

 

Eligible groups include:

  • Adults aged 75 years and over (including those who turn 75 years old by 30 January 2027). 
  • Residents in care homes for older adults. 
  • Individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed. 

Eligibility criteria may be subject to change in line with national guidance.

Resources

Our patients and their carers and families are the reason we're here, so we want to hear your views about the Trust and our services.