Stay safe
From Friday 1 April 2022 the government will end free symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public as part of their approach to ‘Living with Covid-19'. Vaccines will remain the first line of defence against Covid-19 to live with and manage the virus. As we return to ‘business as usual’ across the country, the following changes will take place at Salford.
With the removal of free testing, we will no longer be using the online reporting forms to track the daily number of Covid cases amongst staff and students from Friday 1 April 2022.
We will continue with our enhanced cleaning regime, the supply of sanitiser stations around campus and our approach to ventilation for the foreseeable future. Please do continue to follow public health advice to minimise the chance of catching Covid. This includes maintaining good hand hygiene, letting fresh air in when meeting indoors, and staying away from campus if you are unwell, just as you would with any other illness. Whilst there is no legal requirement to isolate if you have Covid-19 or symptoms, we strongly recommend that you stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five full days.
We continue to encourage personal responsibility as we all adjust to living with Covid-19. Students can find our updated FAQS on the Student Hub and if you have any questions or concerns that haven’t been addressed then please do reach out to askUS for additional support.
University of Salford vaccine guidance for students
Please read the following information about vaccinations for all students.
Campus Living Villages (CLV) are our recommended partner for halls of residence, the University of Salford does not itself own any halls. At present the guidance from CLV for residents is that there is no requirement to be vaccinated. All students are advised to check directly with their accommodation provider to ensure they have the most recent information and to continue to follow current Government guidance.
NHS England has put together a set of FAQs for students that we have replicated below.
- See latest detailed advice and guidance about Covid-19 from the NHS
- See latest Government information
COVID-19 vaccine passport scam
Scam emails have been sent impersonating the NHS, regarding applying for a Covid vaccine passport. One had the email subject “We are happy to introduce Digital Coronavirus Passports”.
Do not click on the “Get Digital Passport” link – you will be directed to a convincing but fake NHS website that asks for personal and payment details (for a “process fee”). You should never pay for this service.
Remember, you can obtain your vaccination status for free through the NHS App, NHS website, phoning the NHS on 119, or by requesting a letter online.
Find out more information about the NHS covid pass on the GOV.UK website.
How will students be invited for the Covid-19 vaccination when they are eligible?
Students will be offered a Covid-19 vaccination when their age or clinical risk group becomes eligible. Some students may have already received their vaccinations if they are at higher risk of Covid-19, are on a placement as a frontline health or care work, are an unpaid carer, or are a household contact of someone who is immunosuppressed. In England, the Covid-19 vaccine is being offered at local sites run by GPs or community pharmacies, at larger vaccination centres and in some hospitals.
Once a student becomes eligible, they can find out how to get their vaccine at nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by phoning 119.
If they are registered with a GP, they will be able to book appointments at a larger vaccination centre, a community pharmacy run site or at some GP run sites as soon as they are eligible or when they receive an invitation from their GP.
To book appointments through the National Booking Service, students will need to be registered with a GP and have an NHS number. Anybody who has previously received treatment will have an NHS number and you can find this on any letter the NHS has sent you, on a prescription, or by logging in to a GP practice online service. You can also find an NHS number using this tool.
Those who are registered with a GP will also receive an invitation to be vaccinated from their GP practice when they are eligible for the vaccine.
While registration with a GP is encouraged to access the vaccine, individuals can request to book Covid-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient through a local GP practice.
What should students do if they aren’t registered with a GP practice, but wish to be vaccinated?
Students should be encouraged to register with a GP practice and should be directed to nhs.uk/register for more information.
An NHS number can be found on any letter the NHS has sent you, on a prescription, or by logging in to a GP practice online service. You can also find an NHS number using this tool.
It is possible to request to book Covid-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient by approaching a local GP practice.
While registration with a GP is encouraged to access the vaccine, individuals can request to book Covid-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient through a local GP practice.
What do students do if they are registered with a GP in their hometown, but not where they study, or vice versa?
If a student is registered with a GP practice and is eligible, they can book their appointments online through the National Booking Service at a location that is convenient to them.
In general, patients should return to the place they had their first dose to have their second dose. However, it is appropriate for students to receive their second dose in a different location to their first dose due to their circumstances.
How does a student access their second dose in a new location?
If a student books their appointments via the National Booking Service, the National Booking Service has an option to book the second vaccination appointment at a different location to the first appointment.
The National Booking Service allows you to view your appointments, cancel your appointments and book appointments again.
If the student received their first dose through a GP practice in one location but will be in a different location for their second, they can book the second dose in the second location through the National Booking Service. Second doses are administered 3 to 12 weeks after having the first dose.
If the first dose was through a GP in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, but the student is in England at the time of their second dose, the patient should follow the instructions above for their second dose.
Can students due to start a health or social care placement be vaccinated before their placement starts?
Anyone who starts working in the NHS or in social care and has not been vaccinated should be offered the vaccine through occupational health departments or be aware of where they can access vaccine through their employer.
The second dose should not be brought forward in these circumstances.
What if a student is eligible for their first dose in England, but will be abroad for their second dose (eg overseas placement)?
The student should contact the health service in the country where they are resident at the time the second dose is due.
Where can students find more information?
Students should be directed to www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/ for more information about the Covid-19 vaccine.
Are international students eligible for the vaccine?
Anybody in the UK is eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine for free, regardless of their nationality or immigration status. International students in England can receive the Covid-19 vaccine when they become eligible.
Do international students need to pay for the vaccine?
Nobody in England has to pay for the Covid-19 vaccination. The Covid-19 vaccine is free of charge and does not count as the kind of care that requires payment.
International students or anyone seeing requests for payment should report this activity to their university institution and to Action Fraud. More information on Covid-19 vaccine scams is on the Action Fraud website.
Do international students need to be registered with a GP to get a vaccine?
While registration with a GP is encouraged to access the vaccine, individuals can request to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient through a local GP practice.
How does an international student get an NHS number?
International students can approach their local GP practice, saying they would like to register for the purposes of receiving the vaccine.
Are any dependents of international students also eligible for the Covid vaccination?
Anyone in England is eligible for the vaccine if they fall within the current eligibility criteria set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and should come forward once it is their turn.
Are international graduates eligible for the vaccine?
See answer above.
How does an international student get a vaccine?
International students should be encouraged to register with a GP and get an NHS number.
An NHS number can be found on any letter the NHS has sent you, on a prescription, or by logging in to a GP practice online service. You can also find an NHS number using this tool.
It is possible to request to book Covid-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient by approaching a local GP practice.
While registration with a GP is encouraged to access the vaccine, individuals can request to book Covid-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient through a local GP practice
Students can be directed to nhs.uk/register for more information on GP registration.
If an international student is not registered with a GP, will they still be invited for their vaccination?
Students who are not registered with a GP will not be proactively contacted by a local NHS service when they are eligible.
However, when a person is eligible, they can book their vaccination appointments via the National Booking Service with their NHS number if they have previously received NHS treatment. You can also find an NHS number using this tool.
We encourage all students to register with a GP and can be directed to www.nhs.uk/register for more information.
What should an international student do if they schedule their first dose in England, but will be abroad for their second?
The student should contact the health service in the country where they are resident at the time the second dose is due.
What should an international student do if they’ve received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination abroad, and ...
What should an international student do if they’ve received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination abroad, and it is not a vaccine that is being offered in England?
If a person has received a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine overseas that is also available in the UK, they should receive the same vaccine for their second dose provided that they are eligible. If the vaccine they received for their first dose is not available in the UK, the most similar alternative should be offered as per:
The student should contact a GP to ensure they receive an appropriate vaccine for their second dose.
Will international students need to have been vaccinated in order to enter England in the autumn?
Vaccination is not currently a requirement for entry into the UK. However, we encourage all international students to receive a vaccine, either in a different country before arriving for term, or in the UK once they arrive.
Where can students find more information?
Students should be directed to www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/ for more information about the Covid-19 vaccine.