An NHS COVID Pass shows your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination details or test results. This is your COVID-19 status.

You may be asked to show your pass to travel abroad, or at events and venues in England asking for proof of your COVID-19 status.

How to get your NHS COVID Pass

You can get an NHS COVID Pass digitally through the NHS App or the online NHS COVID Pass service.

• What is a digital NHS COVID Pass

• Getting a digital NHS COVID Pass

You can download your digital NHS COVID Pass and print it.

If you cannot apply digitally using the NHS App or online service, you can ask for an NHS COVID Pass letter to be sent to you in the post.

Collect test kits to do at home, from:

• any of the 47 libraries in Suffolk
• over 130 pharmacies in Suffolk (you will need a collect code so you can pick up rapid lateral flow test packs from a pharmacy)
• the regional testing centre at Copdock, near Ipswich
• the local testing centres in Ipswich (Portman Road car park) or Lowestoft (Belvedere Road car park)

Other ways:

• Order test kits to use at home, online from Gov.uk or call NHS 119.
• Your workplace may be offering rapid testing, speak to your employer

More information: Regular rapid coronavirus tests if you do not have symptoms

**However, if you have one of the following symptoms you must book a symptomatic test by calling 119 or visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test**

• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

Book a free test by visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call NHS 119 if you have symptoms.

There are four ways you can currently get tested in Suffolk:

• Book an appointment at the Regional Testing Site at Copdock, near Ipswich
• Book an appointment at a Local Testing Site (Bury St Edmunds, central Ipswich or Lowestoft)
• Book an appointment at a Mobile Testing Unit, there are a number of sites across Suffolk
• Request a Home Testing Kit, delivered to your home

Regional Testing Site at Copdock, near Ipswich

A regional testing site for Suffolk and surrounding areas can be found at the London Road Park and Ride, Copdock, Ipswich. It is open from 8am to 8pm, every day. Appointments can be booked by visiting the Gov.uk website or calling NHS 119.

Local Testing Sites

These are a walk-through coronavirus testing sites. Appointments can be booked by visiting the Gov.uk website or calling NHS 119.

• Bury St Edmunds - Olding Road depot, West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3TA. It is It is open from 8am to 8pm, every day (opened 13 September 2021)
• Ipswich - Portman Road car park, IP1 2AN. It is open from 8am to 8pm, every day
• Lowestoft - Belvedere Road car park, NR33 0PH. It is open from 8am to 8pm, every day

Mobile Testing Units (MTUs) in Suffolk

MTUs regularly visit different towns around Suffolk, these are listed below in alphabetical order. Dates are for 2021 and subject to change, please check back regularly. Units are open from 9am to 3pm, unless stated otherwise. Appointments can be booked by visiting the Gov.uk website or calling NHS 119.

99.9% of households in Suffolk can access a testing site within a 30 minute drive.

MTUs are operated by G4S, who also run the regional testing site at Copdock, near Ipswich. The Suffolk Resilience Forum, comprising of the Suffolk’s NHS, Emergency and Public Services, plans the dates and sites.

Home Testing Kit

You can order a home test kit if you cannot get to a test site. However if you have had symptoms for 5 days, you need to go to a test site - it's too late to order a home test kit. Kits can be ordered by visiting the Gov.uk website or calling NHS 119.

List of Mobile Testing Units in Suffolk     

• Beccles: Beccles Hospital, NR34 9NQ Saturday
• Bury St Edmunds: Disused recycling centre, Rougham Hill, IP33 2RW Tuesday, Friday
• Eye Hartismere Hospital, IP23 7BH Wednesday, Sunday
• Framlingham: Framlingham College Leisure Centre, College Road, IP13 9EY (10am to 3pm) Sunday
• Halesworth: North Suffolk Skills Centre, IP19 8PY Saturday
• Haverhill: Meadows Car Park, Ehringshausen Way, CB9 0JU Monday, Thursday
• Leiston: Leiston Leisure Centre, IP16 4LS (10am to 2pm) Thursday
• Lowestoft: Dipp Farm Playing Fields, Corton Road, Lowestoft, NR32 4PR Monday, Wednesday, Friday
• Sudbury: Great Cornard Sports Centre, Head Lane, CO10 0JS (10am to 2pm) Wednesday, Saturday

COVID-19 testing in Suffolk if you have symptoms

Vaccination centres and Walk-in Clinics in Suffolk

You may be asked for your NHS number to have your covid vaccination

Find your NHS number

Before you start

You will need your name, date of birth and postcode. You will be sent a text, email or letter with your NHS number.

If you are using this service for someone else, enter their information. They will be sent their NHS number.

Once you have an appointment booked, call Connecting Communities to arrange transport. Connecting Communities will be charged at a normal bus fare rate. Tel 0345 606 6171

https://communities.suffolkonboard.com/ 

Or see what other options are available: Community Transport in Suffolk

It may take a week or two for your body to build up some protection from the first dose of vaccine. Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective, so you should continue to take recommended precautions to avoid infection. Some people may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe.

The vaccine cannot give you COVID-19 infection, and a full course will reduce your chance of becoming seriously ill. We do not yet know whether it will stop you from catching and passing on the virus, but we do expect it to reduce this risk. So, it is still important to follow the guidance in your local area to protect those around you.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-what-to-expect-after-vaccination/what-to-expect-after-your-covid-19-vaccination

The NHS will never charge for a coronavirus vaccine, so anyone claiming to offer you a booking over the phone or online who asks for payment or bank details is attempting to scam you.

Examples of HM Revenue & Customs related phishing emails, suspicious phone calls and texts:

• HMRC is aware of a phishing campaign telling customers they can claim a tax refund to help protect themselves from the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Do not reply to the email and do not open any links in the message.

• HMRC is aware of coronavirus (COVID-19) SMS scams telling customers they can claim a ‘goodwill payment’. Do not reply to the SMS and do not open any links in the message.

• HMRC is aware of a SMS scam which states you will be fined £250 for leaving the house more than once. The message asks recipients to call an 0800 telephone number to appeal. Do not reply to the SMS or call the phone number listed.

• Criminals are using the NHS COVID Pass as a way to target the public by convincing them to hand over money, financial details and personal information.

** Report scams to Suffolk Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 **

Help out with our response to the COVID-19 pandemic by sharing information with family, friends, colleagues and community groups:

• Become a Message Cascader

• Long COVID (PDF, 219 KB) 22/09/2021

• Home testing infographic (PDF, 237KB) 05/05/2021

• Am I eligible for vaccine, testing and care? (PDF, 231KB) 15/04/2021

• Self isolation financial support (PDF, 409KB) 01/02/2021

• Vaccinations (PDF, 430KB) 18/01/2021

• Find infographics plus other COVID-19 information in other languages

Easy read versions

• COVID-19 vaccinations (PDF, 751KB) 11/02/2021

Suffolk Learning Disability Partnership

Easy read guide - COVID-19 vaccine