Chemitex Pharmacy on Hornsey Road provides both NHS and private COVID-19 vaccination for people across Islington. No GP referral is needed for the private service.
Protection from an earlier dose or infection drops over the months that follow. Your immune system needs a reminder before the virus starts circulating again in winter.
The vaccine is not designed to stop every sniffle. It is designed to keep you out of hospital and reduce the chance of serious lung or heart complications.
COVID-19 also spreads easily in shared households, care settings and busy workplaces. Being vaccinated lowers the risk you pass it to someone who would cope with it badly.
Age remains the single biggest risk factor for severe COVID-19. People in this group face the highest chance of hospital admission and slow recovery.
Infection moves quickly in shared living spaces. Residents are usually older, frailer and more likely to become seriously unwell.
This includes anyone on chemotherapy, biological therapy, high-dose steroids or anti-rejection medicines after a transplant. Vaccination applies from six months of age.
Risk climbs steadily through your sixties. Many people in this age band now choose a private dose when the NHS offer does not reach them.
Heart disease, COPD, asthma, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease and neurological conditions all raise the risk of complications from COVID-19.
Pregnancy changes how your lungs and immune system work. COVID-19 in later pregnancy carries a higher chance of hospital care and early delivery.
Frontline staff meet the virus more often and work close to vulnerable patients. Vaccination protects both you and the people in your care.
If you look after an elderly or disabled person, your own infection becomes their risk. Many unpaid carers choose a private seasonal dose.
A body mass index above 40 makes breathing complications more likely. Recovery from severe COVID-19 also tends to take longer.
Long flights, crowded transport and limited access to healthcare abroad all raise the stakes if you fall ill mid-trip.
The JCVI reviews eligibility each year, and the list has narrowed. The autumn 2026 programme runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027.
You can have the free NHS COVID-19 vaccine if you:
You do not need to wait for an NHS invitation to book. If you fall outside these groups, the private vaccine is available here at any time during the season.
We provide the current seasonal COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in the UK, held in a monitored fridge and prepared on site. Both NHS and private appointments are available.
Our vaccinators are trained and checked to administer COVID-19 vaccines under national protocols. Appointments are short, private and run from our consultation room on Hornsey Road.
We vaccinate from age 12 upwards for the private service, while the NHS service covers eligible individuals from 6 months of age (such as immunosuppressed patients). Flu vaccination can usually be given at the same visit if you want both.
The vaccine carries a set of instructions to the muscle cells in your arm. Those cells make a harmless copy of the spike protein found on the surface of the virus.
Your immune system treats that protein as a threat. It produces antibodies and memory cells trained to recognise the real virus later.
No live or whole coronavirus is used, so the vaccine cannot give you COVID-19. The instructions break down within a few days and never reach your DNA.
If you meet the virus after that, your immune system responds faster and harder. Protection builds over roughly two weeks from the date of your dose.
NHS vaccination is free of charge for anyone who meets this season’s eligibility criteria.
Schedule online or call the pharmacy. Specify NHS or private dose to secure the correct slot. Walk-ins depend on availability.
Begin with a screening check. Discuss allergies, illnesses, vaccines, pregnancy, and immune-affecting medicines. Raise any concerns before proceeding.
The vaccine is administered in the upper arm. It lasts seconds and is felt as a brief sting. Stay post-vaccination for monitoring briefly.
Most side effects are mild and settle within one or two days. They are a sign your immune system is responding.
Common effects include:
Paracetamol and rest can help. Move your arm gently instead of keeping it still. Serious reactions are rare. However, inflammation of the heart muscle can happen, especially in younger men soon after vaccination.
Seek immediate medical help for chest pain, shortness of breath, or a fluttering heartbeat post-vaccination. Call 999 for severe allergic reactions with facial swelling or breathing issues.
COVID-19 vaccines have been given to many thousands of pregnant women in the UK and are considered safe at any stage of pregnancy. They are not live vaccines.
Catching COVID-19 later in pregnancy raises the risk of hospital admission, intensive care and premature birth. Vaccination also passes some antibody protection to your baby.
Pregnancy alone does not make you eligible for the free NHS COVID-19 vaccine this season. You can have the private dose here instead.
The vaccine is also safe while breastfeeding. Studies looking at fertility have found no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination affects your chances of conceiving. If you are unsure, speak to your midwife or ask our pharmacist.
Vaccination works mainly by reducing severe disease rather than preventing every infection.
Vaccinated people tend to recover faster and spend fewer days unwell.
Fewer lost days matter if you are self-employed or run a household on your own.
Reducing your own illness lowers the chance of passing it to an older or immunosuppressed relative.
Vaccinated people report persistent post-COVID symptoms less often.
Useful if you are flying long-haul, joining a cruise or working abroad.
A seasonal dose before winter gives you protection when infection rates climb.
We are based on Hornsey Road and known to families across Islington, Holloway and Finsbury Park for everyday healthcare.
We check your NHS eligibility first. If you do not qualify, the private dose is available at the same visit.
Every dose is given by a trained, assessed member of our clinical team working to national vaccination protocols.
Complex questions about medicines, immunosuppression or other conditions get answered properly rather than passed on.
Your screening and vaccination take place behind a closed door, not across the counter.
Book online or call the same morning. Most patients are seen, vaccinated and on their way within 20 minutes.
Save a second trip by having both seasonal vaccines together when clinically appropriate.
£100 per private dose with no booking fee, consultation charge or hidden extras added later.
Open six days a week, Chemitex Pharmacy is here to support your health. Call us, send an email, or visit our accessible pharmacy near Finsbury Park for all your healthcare needs.
Come and see why families in Islington have trusted Chemitex Pharmacy with their health for over 40 years. We're here for you.
Yes, parking is available right outside the pharmacy.
There's a bus stop just around the corner.
Trusted by generations of families in Islington.
Got some friendly and super quick travel vaccines here as I realised 5 days before travel. The pharmacist was soooo lovely and made the whole appointment easy. She was very informed and answered all my questions with confidence. Will be coming back for any future vaccine needs for sure as the price was much cheaper than the other ones in the area
I came into the chemist on Friday and I was very impressed by your colleague Fiona and how skilled she is with customers, particularly those who are vulnerable. She offered reassurance, was informative, and showed kindness and patience. She is an asset to your business.
Great little local pharmacy with wide selection and convenient hours, always has what I need in stock. Great customer service and advice from a lovely bubbly young woman who works on the till. Would recommend.
I needed to get a Covid and Flu vaccination together, before traveling, and Chemitex were able to give me a next day appointment and a good price.
The service was excellent and friendly.
I thoroughly recommend.
Yes. Both can be given at one appointment, usually one in each arm. This is standard practice and does not reduce how well either works.
Wait until you feel well again. Adults are generally advised to wait around four weeks after a confirmed infection before having a dose, while children under 12 should leave 12 weeks per the Green Book.
Yes. We give you a written record on the day, and NHS doses are added to your GP record and NHS App.
Protection against severe illness fades over several months. That is why a seasonal dose is offered rather than one jab for life.
No. The private service is open to anyone aged 12 and over, including visitors to London and people registered elsewhere in the UK.
Expert tips from your local clinical team.
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Chemitex Pharmacy is located at 332 Hornsey Road, London, N7 7HE. It’s just a short walk from Holloway Road and Finsbury Park stations. You’ll also find it near the Emirates Stadium. Book online using the link below, or call our team directly.
