To wonder how people are booking flu jabs when Boots have suspended them

[NJT70]

A genuine question. I have tried to book a flu jab with Boots several time in the last couple of weeks and have always got the widely publicised message that the service has been suspended. I was at my local Boots today waiting for a prescription and got chatting to someone who was waiting for a flu jab. I said lucky him as I couldn’t book to which he replied that it was his first time because his employer had given him a voucher and that he only booked it online on Friday through the Boots website. How? Where is this magic website and how do you access it?!

Hellohello89

You really need to be more organised. If you are a “key worker” and are ECV then you should have made sure your jab was booked in September. You can’t call other people “selfish” for having a jab that protects themselves and the vulnerable too because you only rocked up today and other people had prioritised getting it on time. Get it earlier next year.

@HelloHello89

I tried to get one today myself because of my health conditions and because I'm a key worker but there wasnt any left. Docs are running out as are pharmacies. My worry is the selfish people who don't need them are getting them when they never did before this year!

Wow - Aren't you a delight!!!

What a shame you weren't organised enough to book your flu jab a few weeks ago when there were plenty to be had.

I booked with Boots mid September and had my shot last week.
I'm not especially high risk but I had as much right as anyone to purchase the vaccination.
Maybe get yourself better organised in the future - and stop being so selfish.

Ouch! My employer has offered us a free flu job voucher through Boots if we fall into a certain age group and aren’t eligible through the NHS fora free one. I applied for my voucher at 9:25 today got authorise 10 minutes later, logged onto boots website and had loads of choice to book an appointment. All booked now for a week on Monday.

I booked mine at Lloyds.

Some independent chemists are doing them too, phone round.

I booked through boots a month ago, and had a voucher from work for a freebie. Not NHS though. But I think the take up for the jab has obviously been huge, especially with some companies providing vouchers to get it free.

Booked it ages ago .

the flu jab for over 65 is different to the one for under 65 - the one for under 65 apparently either ran out first or there wasn't enough
try Lloyds they apparently have awaiting lists
Dear Hancock (spits feathers) stated 2 days after Suffolk NHS had stated that there wasn't enough vaccine for this year (August I think) that everybody who could should vaccinate - He is an MP in West Suffolk - pity he doesn't talk to his local NHS.
I think the Suffolk NHS mentioned that covid had caused problems because WHO usually decides which vaccine to use in Feb/March ... after a belated decision (caused by...) the problem was with production & dispersal which was made worse by ...

Day Lewis Pharmacy - walk in

I booked mine (free nhs) and dd1 (paid for) at the beginning of September when the system opened (I went on the waiting list/email alert to be alerted when they opened for booking, in the summer - email never arrived but I just kept checking every day to see if it was open for booking). The guy at boots said we were lucky to get in as they are now only booking for 65+. My mum who is also entitled to a free flu jab can't get one as she is 64 (and the gp surgery screwed up, they failed to alert some people that they were running only two clinics - 1 walk through and 1 drive through) and now she cant even book privately.

I booked mine about 3 weeks ago- but just before the suspension and it is the end of November.

I have chronic asthma and did not notice any advantage to that!

@HelloHello89

I tried to get one today myself because of my health conditions and because I'm a key worker but there wasnt any left. Docs are running out as are pharmacies. My worry is the selfish people who don't need them are getting them when they never did before this year!

Of course. Now we get the accusations of 'selfish people' We have all been advised to get the flu jab. The government said everyone should get it if possible and that there would be enough for everyone. How the hell are people supposed to know that there wont be enough?

Dh DS and I get the flu vaccine every year and have done for a few years. I get mine via the GP as I am on the 'vulnerable' list, DH and DS pay for theirs. This year we all paid for them as I figured I didn't need to take the nhs ones. We did this very early, just because DH is ultra organised every year about this. I see no 'selfishness' about people getting a flu vaccine when they have been advised to by flu campaigns
www.gov.uk/government/news/record-numbers-offered-flu-vaccine-as-those-with-flu-and-covid-19-more-likely-to-die

@Suzi888

Try wwwpatientaccess.com with your post code. Day Lewis Pharmacy in Tooting has online bookings available now.... you will need to pay though.

Thank you very much for this, i now have an appt next week :)

@ThatDamnScientist

I booked mine (free nhs) and dd1 (paid for) at the beginning of September when the system opened (I went on the waiting list/email alert to be alerted when they opened for booking, in the summer - email never arrived but I just kept checking every day to see if it was open for booking). The guy at boots said we were lucky to get in as they are now only booking for 65+. My mum who is also entitled to a free flu jab can't get one as she is 64 (and the gp surgery screwed up, they failed to alert some people that they were running only two clinics - 1 walk through and 1 drive through) and now she cant even book privately.

If your Mum is 65 before 31 March 2021 then she is entitled to the over 65 now.

I booked a well+ pharmacy one a few weeks ago.
Doctors here are only doing 65+ at the moment I'm not waiting til the middle of flu season to be called up by them and then have another 2-3 weeks til I'm covered.

My worry is the selfish people who don't need them are getting them when they never did before this year!

I've gotten one pretty much every year since I was in my early 20s. It's sensible. I'm not going to not get one in a pandemic year if I have the opportunity to get one. Hopefully my appointment at a local pharmacy will go ahead as planned at the end of this week.

Why in gods name if you were vulnerable didn't you book earlier? I rang my surgery & talked to my pharmacy from the beginning of September to find out approximate dates & booked asap (Dh has multiple health issues & over 65)
I can't understand if you have health problems why you didn't book earlier especially since they ran out for a few weeks last year

@ThatDamnScientist
we were never told by gp we had to ask

Im getting mine done next Saturday at my GP's surgery

I booked one a few weeks ago. You need to be quicker off the mark. I don’t feel I’m selfishly taking it off anyone - I’m a secondary school teacher up to my neck in coughing teenagers. No protection from catching COVID-19, so I’m having a bloody flu jab at least.

I was contacted by my surgery to book, despite being at severe risk from flu I’d never been contacted to book it before, in fact the receptionist normally grills me as to why I want to book at my age until I explain what my condition is/means. I’m glad I did although our surgery seemed to have taken precautions to ensure the shielded could get them.

I believe everyone in the house is entitled to free ones this year but I’ve not booked them yet, I’ve had mine and with the shortage I’ll try to once stocks come back through.

I can understand the frustration of pp though perhaps the way it was expressed wasn’t quite right. It is bloody tough, flu could kill me in hours, I take antibiotics everyday for life, a temperature is a hospitalisation situation for me and I’m not even ill so adding fear of covid to fear of not being able to get the flu vaccine as stocks aren’t there is a scary prospect especially if you’re already really poorly or living with a condition effecting your life constantly.

I also agree though with getting as many as possible vaccinated, the more of the population vaccinated will help lower the infection rate so it’s another layer of protection, less chance for me to catch it, for cases filling the hospital.

God it’s all so shit this year.

@VivaMiltonKeynes

Thank you, I will tell her to go back to them and try again!

My company scheme offered a voucher through Bupa but Bupa have now suspended the service.

Me, DH and DS have ours booked with Boots. Whether there’ll be any available in 10 days, I’m not sure. I thought this Govt. promised mass flu jabs would be available. Another lie.

I booked them ages ago. We could have had them free on the NHS, but I was happy to pay at boots to get them in Sept before the rush. It is always a bit fraught at the GP surgery.

I am asthmatic, if you care to know if I deserved it.

I was surprised that the voucher from my employer for a Boots flu vaccination went through ok when I booked earlier today. I had heard that Boots had suspended their service for now, so was relieved to get an appointment.