COVID-19 Vaccines for International Students in Edinburgh: Records and Doses

International students arrive in Edinburgh with very different COVID-19 histories. Some had four or five doses of an mRNA vaccine at home. Some had vaccines that were never used in the UK. Some had one or two doses years ago and COVID-19 itself more than once. And the rules about who should have another dose are not the same in every country. So it is no surprise that students ask us whether they need a COVID-19 vaccine here, whether their old doses count, and how to get one.

This page is for international students anywhere in Edinburgh. It covers who gets a free COVID-19 vaccine in brief, what to do with vaccine records from home, what to do if you have a weakened immune system, when a private dose makes sense, and proof of vaccination for travel. For the wider picture, see our guide to the COVID-19 vaccine in Edinburgh.

Can I get a free COVID-19 vaccine as an international student?

Full-time international students with a valid visa can use the NHS in Scotland on the same basis as other residents, once registered with a GP. The free COVID-19 vaccine this winter is for adults aged 75 and over, care home residents and people with a weakened immune system. Healthy students under 75 are not included, so most international students are not eligible.

This may be stricter than the rules at home. Some countries still offer COVID-19 vaccines to all adults, or to everyone over 50 or 60. In Scotland, those groups are not included this year.

If you have a weakened immune system

This is the group to take seriously. If you take immune-suppressing medicine for a condition such as Crohn's disease, arthritis, psoriasis or lupus, are having cancer treatment, have had a transplant, or take high-dose or long-term steroid tablets, you are likely to be eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccine and a free flu jab.

Register with a GP practice in Edinburgh as soon as you arrive, and bring a letter from your specialist at home, the names and doses of your medicines and any vaccination record, translated if you can. Ask the practice to record your condition and treatment so you are invited. Our guide to moving to Edinburgh and sorting your prescriptions explains how registration works.

Your COVID-19 vaccines from home: do they count?

Your earlier doses still matter, because they have helped build your immunity. They do not change who is eligible for a dose this winter, but they do affect timing and, occasionally, which vaccine is suitable.

• Bring a record of every COVID-19 vaccine you have had: the name of the vaccine, the dates, and the country. A vaccination certificate or an app screenshot is fine.
• Timing: the usual gap before another dose is about 6 months, and at least 3 months. The pharmacist will check against your last dose.
• Vaccines not used in the UK: some vaccines given elsewhere, including some inactivated or viral vector vaccines, are not used in the UK. That does not usually stop you having a UK vaccine, but the pharmacist needs to know what you had.
• A recent infection: once you have recovered from COVID-19, there is no need to wait longer before being vaccinated.
• Allergies or reactions: tell us about any reaction to a previous COVID-19 vaccine, wherever you had it.

Not eligible, but looking to be vaccinated?

If you are healthy and under 75, the benefit of a COVID-19 vaccine this winter is small. The current vaccines mainly reduce the risk of serious illness, give limited protection against mild infection, and do little to stop you passing the virus on.

Some international students still ask about a private dose. It is worth a conversation if:

• you are used to a yearly dose at home and your last one was more than six months ago
• you are going home to see older or vulnerable family and want to lower your own risk of being ill
• you have a long-term condition that is not on the Scottish free list
• a placement, hospital or institution abroad has asked for a recent dose

Talk to a pharmacist, who will tell you honestly whether it makes sense for you.

What happens at the appointment

1. Book a time in the calendar below. You can call us if you need help with the booking form.
2. Bring your records: passport or student card, your COVID-19 vaccine history from home, and the names of any medicines you take.
3. A suitability check: the pharmacist asks about your health, allergies, previous doses and reactions.
4. The vaccine, given into the upper arm, and a short wait afterwards if advised.

If English is not your first language, bring a friend or tell us when you arrive, and we will take our time. You can have a flu jab at the same visit if you want one.

Travel and proof of vaccination

Few countries now ask travellers for proof of COVID-19 vaccination, but rules can change and some institutions, hospitals or placements abroad may ask. Before you travel, check the entry rules on the official website of the country you are going to, and the UK government's foreign travel advice.

If you are vaccinated in Scotland, keep your own record of the vaccine name, batch and date. If you are travelling home for the winter break to see older relatives, our page on visiting older relatives this winter covers what helps protect them, which is mostly about staying away while ill rather than vaccination.

If you catch COVID-19 in Edinburgh

Most people no longer need to take a test in Scotland. If you have symptoms, stay at home until you no longer have a fever and no longer need medicine to bring it down, and keep away from people at higher risk. If you have a weakened immune system, you may be eligible for antiviral treatment, which must start within five days of symptoms. Our page on COVID-19 symptoms and what to do explains how this works, and when to call your GP, 111 or 999.

Book a COVID-19 vaccination at Forrest Pharmacy

Choose a time below. Forrest Pharmacy is at 45 Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QP, a short walk from the University of Edinburgh's central campus and close to bus routes from across the city. We are open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm.

COVID-19 vaccine questions from international students

My country offers COVID-19 vaccines to all adults. Why doesn't Scotland?

The UK now focuses free COVID-19 vaccination on people at highest risk of serious illness: mainly adults aged 75 and over and people with a weakened immune system.

I had a vaccine that is not used in the UK. Is that a problem?

Usually not. Bring the record, and the pharmacist will check timing and suitability before any further dose.

I paid the immigration health surcharge. Does that cover a COVID-19 vaccine?

It covers NHS care on the same basis as other residents, so you get a free COVID-19 vaccine only if you are in an eligible group.

Can I have a flu jab and a COVID-19 vaccine together?

Yes, one in each arm. Our page on flu jabs for international students covers flu separately.

Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine to travel home?

Rarely now, but check the official entry rules for your destination before you book. If your airline, a hospital placement or an institution at home asks for proof, we can give you a written record of any vaccine you have with us.

What if I feel unwell after the vaccine?

A sore arm, tiredness, aching or a slight temperature for a day or two is common. Rest and paracetamol usually help. Chest pain, breathlessness or a racing heart in the days afterwards needs urgent medical advice. In an emergency in the UK, call 999.

My records are not in English. Is that a problem?

Bring them anyway. The pharmacist can often work from the vaccine names and dates, and a translation helps if you have one.

Related reading

• COVID-19 Vaccine in Edinburgh for Students, Working Adults and Families
• COVID-19 Vaccine for Students in Edinburgh: Do You Need One?
• Visiting Older Relatives This Winter: COVID-19 Vaccines and Protecting Family
• COVID-19 Symptoms in 2026: What to Do, and When to Get Help
• Flu Jab for International Students in Edinburgh

Reviewed by Ather Diab, Superintendent Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber (GPhC 2233707). Forrest Pharmacy, 45 Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QP. Last reviewed: 29 October 2026.

This page is general information and does not replace an individual assessment, or advice about your immigration status. 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: NHS inform, Healthcare for overseas visitors; Scottish Government, Winter Programme 2026, SGHD/CMO(2026)18; JCVI advice on COVID-19 vaccination for autumn 2026 and spring 2027; UKHSA Green Book, chapter 14a (COVID-19).