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

[WorldEndingFire]

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.

Over 65's flu vaccines are in the surgeries now. Under 65 vaccines not due until 10 October.

My surgery has already emailed me and I have an appointment end in 14 days

Bad time for vaccine to be in short supply. A consultant friend has warned us all to get it this year as there will be a bit of a pandemic - has been awful in Australia over their winter and is headed here. Get it booked at Boots or Superdrug.

That may be so, but flu season doesn't kick in for a while, so providing the supplies turn up when promised , it should be fine.

Boots do free nhs fly jabs .

Another one saying Boots, as you’re in an NHS flu vaccine group you won’t have to pay either.

Flu vaccine is issued from central stores, so we ordered it at the end of last year but delivery is out of our hands. We are given provisional delivery dates but won’t book clinics until we actually have the vaccine in the fridges!

Far easier to ask people to call back to book, than to book 300 appointments which all then need rebooking when the vaccine isn’t delivered as expected...

We have the 65+ vaccine in already (wasn’t expecting it for 3 more weeks!) and still don’t know for sure when the rest of the vaccines will be delivered. We’ve learned that proposed delivery dates are tenuous at best.

I get a flu jab every year (due to a long term health condition). It’s normal for the to start booking clinics or individual appointments for them from early to mid October. I would just call back then.

I was told at the maternity unit and gp surgery that they don't know when they'll be delivered. Can u imagine booking 40 people. In and then having to cancel as order not arrived? Be patient.

I'm in Scotland and am booked in to get mine tomorrow - my surgery has been actively promoting drop in sessions and regular clinics to get it done since 6 weeks ago. Wonder why the disparity in the rest of the UK?

@MumApr18 I've not been contacted yet about them by my GP but then last year they tried to tell me I wasn't eligible (I'm neutropenic) but they did say I was eligible because of my asthma (I'm not asthmatic...)

My surgery have now added vaccinations for those at risk to the online booking so I’ve booked for Oct 16th, currently the only date available.
The ridiculous thing is that the clinic for the over 65s is on a Saturday but the bookings for the at risk group is a Wednesday when many will be at work!

Thanks again everyone; you've managed to articulate the hows and whys clearly which those at the surgery failed to do - makes a lot more sense now.

Without the contextual information of what's normal and issues affecting supply, or the problems with managing booking that way, it felt like an arbitrary choice. All the literature I had been provided from the NHS said to book in September so there was no indication that this was early.

There is delays, people worry about booking slots then having to change them all around

We are waiting for delivery confirmations

Is there a reason you can't just go to a chemist to get one? I couldn't be arsed with the faff of booking appointments when they're under a tenner elsewhere.

The reason for delays is I believe they are adding strains and ensuring it’s the most relevant vaccine they can produce

We order them pretty early and then are given a provisional date, which has been delayed.

If you invite thousands of people before you have the vaccine this is a lot of work to ‘undo’

We had our son vaccinated at Boots when he went back to School in September last year because the surgery weren’t offering clinics until the end of October. He has asthma and it’s free at pharmacies for qualifying groups.
My daughter pays for hers but thinks it’s essential (she works with children) and I pay for one because my husband, who’s in a vulnerable group, can’t have it done because he’s allergic to the jab.
It would be a really nice thing to do, any healthy posters who can afford it (between £8-£10 usually), to consider having a jab to help to protect people who can’t. 😊

My surgery just let me book one online for late September. I’m under 65 but diabetic so at risk. Let’s see if they cancel it 🤔.

Ha, they rang up yesterday to cancel as they haven’t got the vaccine yet. I said I knew as Mumsnet told me 👍🏽.

I had mine done at local chemist when pg, I don’t think I had to book