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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's strange GP won't let me book flu jab

45 replies

WorldEndingFire · 08/09/2019 18:08

6 months pg, FTM, flu vaccines come in from September onward in most places. Vaccines haven't arrived at the surgery apparently but they won't say when they will and won't let me book a provisional appointment.

I have a public-facing role and I'm left feeling quite helpless and exposed by lack of support from GP surgery. AIBU? Are there alternate pathways for getting my vaccine? Will discuss with midwife this week either way.

OP posts:
WaggingKnife · 08/09/2019 18:10

There are flu vaccine shortages this year, I imagine they are working out when their supply will arrive before booking appointments.

ShirleyPhallus · 08/09/2019 18:10

Surely they just want to wait until they know when the supply will arrive before making appointments?

RaptorInaPorkPieHat · 08/09/2019 18:11

Book it online at Boots Smile They're already taking bookings for the end of this month.

DrinkSangriaInThePark · 08/09/2019 18:11

Just book in nearer the time. I wouldn't give that a second thought. Here in Ireland I just wait until mid October and wander into a pharmacy for it!

Laura221 · 08/09/2019 18:12

They wont have received the vaccines yet. Theu will prioritise the most vulnerable first once they know how many they have. You can pay at most chemists to have it, about £8.

Soubriquet · 08/09/2019 18:12

My local clinics do a drop in service

The list the dates, and then you just turn up.

Buddytheelf85 · 08/09/2019 18:13

If they haven’t got the vaccines they haven’t got the vaccines!

Stressedout10 · 08/09/2019 18:13

Due to Brexit stockpiling by the government its just 1 of many medicines that are in short supply right now

dollydaydream114 · 08/09/2019 18:13

Vaccines haven't arrived at the surgery apparently but they won't say when they will and won't let me book a provisional appointment.

I would suspect they don't actually know when the vaccines will arrive, rather than that they know and are refusing to tell you. And if that's the case it's logical that they wouldn't let you book an appointment.

You're entitled to a free jab if you're pregnant, of course, but if you don't want to wait until your GP has received their stock of vaccines you could get one in a pharmacy and pay for it - Boots will do it for about £12.

Hederex · 08/09/2019 18:14

Unfortunately, though surgeries ordered fou vaccines almost a year ago, the delivery date for the quadrivalent flu vaccine - the one for 18-64 year olds - has been delayed. We are supposed to get ours in mid October, but this isn't set in stone so we haven't started booking clinics yet. No point setting them all up and then having to rearrange.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 08/09/2019 18:14

Boots let you book it privately. No point booking provisional appointments with doctors given they haven’t had any stock in yet. Waste of admin etc if it’s delayed.

Charmlight · 08/09/2019 18:15

Too early.

soundsystem · 08/09/2019 18:16

You can get it done at Boots, they'll do for free if you're entitled to it, and they give you a form to hand to your GP to confirm.

Need to book mine as well, thanks for the reminder!

Cryalot2 · 08/09/2019 18:16

Thanks I had forgot. I must check with our surgery to see.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 08/09/2019 18:16

At ours you have to ‘book in’ at the clinic but it’s essentially a similar principle Soubriquet. I can’t see there’s any point in letting you book a provisional appointment if they don’t know when they’ll get them or how many they’ll get.

Bellasblankexpression · 08/09/2019 18:17

Is it early? In 22 weeks and had a text to say I need to book my flu jab appointment ASAP when I phoned up I got booked in for next week

Original poster
WorldEndingFire · 08/09/2019 18:21

Thanks so much everyone. Appreciate it.

OP posts:
Chouetted · 08/09/2019 18:22

I assume it's easier on them just to refuse to book appointments than to have to rebook lots and lots of people if they guess and get it wrong Grin

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 08/09/2019 18:24

Not too early in a normal year Bella. My surgery normally runs it’s clinics end of Sep and end of October so the letters would have gone of by now. This year will be different because production has been delayed.

kaytee87 · 08/09/2019 18:26

It's quite normal for a gps surgery not to book flu vaccine appointments until they know when they can give it. It was the same last year for us

TalbotAMan · 08/09/2019 18:28

I was seeing one of the practice nurses and asked whether they were available yet. She told me that they were expecting delivery to them on 11 October.

Schuyler · 08/09/2019 18:30

There’s a national shortage of flu vaccines for under 65s this year. Don’t panic but do pay for it privately if it’s bothering you. As others have said, it’s not much if it’s affordable for you and would give you peace of mind.

PassMeAnotherCoffee · 08/09/2019 18:31

I'm 'high priority' for flu jab and get called in the first round (with all the really sick and very old people - I feel a bit of a fraud but I know my risk from complications is very high). Even so, I'm booked for early October.
I work for the NHS and our 'free' work sessions are all in October. Well, there will be more, but they try to get people done then.

So you don't need to worry in early September. Maybe ring them once a week to find out when they are booking? Or indeed pay at Boots. IIRC it's c£10-15, so if you can afford that it might put your mind at rest.

MadisonAvenue · 08/09/2019 18:36

I tried to book mine the other day, my immune system is compromised and I'm high priority, but my surgery is only booking over 65s at the moment. It was the same last year whereas in previous years they've taken bookings for all ages from late August.
I'm keeping an eye on the online booking system.

hormonesorDHbeingadick · 08/09/2019 18:37

Bellasblankexpression early in terms of flu season.