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?!

I don't drive, and I work and have a toddler, so my options are limited to seek one out. There is a Boots pharmacy right by my house but when I tried to book one online a few weeks ago it said they were only taking bookings for people over 65. Another local independent pharmacy nearby that I've previously had one at said they are also only taking bookings for people over 65. So it doesn't look like I will be able to get one this year. I have got mine privately for many years now.

DH is an NHS worker and will luckily get one at work, and DD is a toddler who should get one due to her age. However I called the GP practice about it a few weeks ago and they said they hadn't got them in yet and they will call everyone who is eligible when they come in. I'm sceptical about how they will possibly have the resources to phone every patient who is eligible for a flu vaccination? She is asthmatic so I really want her to get it and I'm concerned she will miss out.

I booked mine at the GP’s last week to have done in a fortnight (earliest appointment) as I’m pregnant so eligible

I booked mine (Boots online) on 27 Aug for an appointment on 02 Oct.

I booked mine with Boots a couple of days ago as I can't get the time off work for my GP surgery to do it (Work pay for Boots flu jabs so free still for me). There are appointments around still

I think; pharmacies order flu jabs early spring, based on how many they needed that year. So the demand for this winters wasn't known about as it was pre covid. There is a shortage of under 65s vaccines. And for some reason, the vacine company don't send all of the Pharmacies quota in one go, so they may only get a handful at a time and have to priorities those.

Dh and I managed to get ours at the local pharmacy. They were charging £15 per jab, but it was worth it to us. We tried Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda but they all had a wait of a couple of weeks.

Maybe ring around some local pharmacies and see if they have anything available

Booked mine about a week ago DS and I are booked in for Friday with GP. We both have underlining health conditions, ds needs the jab and not nasal due to his asthma.

I only recently (last year) discovered that there is now a pneumonia vaccination. Given that I know several people over the years who have be quite seriously ill with pneumonia I consider it £70 well spent - it lasts 5+ years.

If you are over 65, or have a chronic condition, you can get them at your doctors for free.

They are released in batches, so surgeries/pharmacies don’t get their entire quota in one go.

@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!

I've got to wait 6 weeks at my GP (already booked) because over 65s are being done first and then vulnerable people under 65. I was shielding so pretty vulnerable medically.

The GP receptionist said their uptake this year was a lot higher than normal, these are people who are eligible and not selfish people.

I managed to get a flu jab at our local Day Lewis pharmacy last week. I’d tried at Boots and Sainsbury’s and they had run out, do that was a relief.

I googled the availability and that’s how I found out where it was available.

My GP sent out a text in mid-September saying "don't ring us about the flu jab, we'll contact you". They texted yesterday to say they're not doing them, you should go to a pharmacy. I wish I hadn't waited to hear from them and just booked one!

@BigBadVoodooHat

Everyone else is just as entitled to one as you are. People are being encouraged to get one this year. I think your frustration is a bit misplaced there.

Come on, now - everyone knows that throwing the term ‘key worker’ around makes you far more entitled than any of the normal, ‘selfish’ people

I work for a bank, so I'm a key worker. I mean, I'm in HR in a non retail bank but that still counts, right?

People with relevant health conditions can get them at their GP surgery anyway can't they?

I'm over 50, so would be due on the NHS from Nov but I saved the NHS money by using my employer's corporate voucher scheme. Had it last week.

I booked mine online with Lloyd's in Sainsbury's three weeks ago and had it last week. I'm a key worker but employer not issuing vouchers yet and GP surgery have only just started making appointments for them next week. Wasn't taking a chance on waiting for it so went for it when I saw it advertised. Getting it at Sainsbury's meant I could get my shopping at the same time

I used my local pharmacy and booked three weeks before.

My GP's surgeries are texting us dates and times to have our flu jab and we've been told not to call them to make an appointment. I fully understand why and was delighted to get my appointment today until I saw the time and place. There are three different locations. One in my village, one in the next village along (bus service) and one, where I've never been that I can't get to by bus. I don't drive.

The appointment is in the village I can get a bus to so not as convenient as it could be, but not so bad. The time, however, is undoable. It's 8.45 am on Saturday. If it was that time and in the surgery ten minutes - by foot - from me - I'd be grand with it. If it was that time and the buses were running at that time I'd also be grand with it but they're not so I've had to text back no and now have to wait for another appointment. The text message also tells us not to phone and they'll sort out another appointment if we can't make the one chosen but if they send another one for the same time in the same place on another Saturday I'll be equally stymied. I'm a bit frustrated with it all.

Obviously, I'm going to have to call them. They might be pissed off with me but hopefully, they'll understand that I'm not trying to be difficult I just want to make sure that the next appointment they can come up with for me will be one I'll be able to attend.

Teen dd and I had it at a local independent pharmacy. I don’t feel “selfish” about protecting our health. I had the flu about 10 years ago - a super healthy woman in mid 30s - and I was really sick for about two weeks - with about three days semi conscious in bed and only getting up for the loo. I hope to avoid that.

@ProudAuntie76

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.

There are different systems everywhere. Most people in my region are going to a central flu vaccination hub but the phonelines and websites have been collapsing due to demand.

My GP surgery are doing it themselves but only opened up booking in the past couple of weeks, they normally do a couple of open clinics where you queue to be vaccinated on a first come first served basis but obviously can't do that this year.

Not everyone who can't book a vaccine just now is because of bad planning on the patient's part.

I just walked in to my local pharmacy last week. No problem at all.

Had mine the week before last in Asda. Plenty of appointments. Another local Asda is doing walk in provides you avoid lunchtime.

I had a pneumonia jab in Boots last week.

@MotheringShites

I’m on immunosuppressant medication and can’t get a flu jab. Thee seems to be a mass shortage.

Same issue here. Frustrating as keep being reminded I need to have it.

I heard through my local pharmacist (who had no slots and fewer doses than normal), that there will be another delivery in November or thereabouts.

She said that would be better as the vaccine strain changes when they see how it is working and the next batch would match better, as peak Flu Season is late December/January. I hope it is true, would anyone with the knowledge of these things care to comment.

My GPS surgery ‘invited me to make an appointment “ mid August. I do all appointments and prescriptions through a patient portal so was able to make the appointment to suit me.
When I turned up they also offered me the pneumonia vaccine.
This years flu jab left my arm very painful for nearly a week. As a frontline worker I have had flu jab for the last 20+ years and it was the first time it caused so much discomfort.

I got sent a voucher (by my work) with a link to a Boots website and there were lots of slots. I guess Boots have kept supplies back for employees of corporate partners or something like that - there were lots of free slots, but it wasn't the main Boots website.

I booked mine 2 weeks ago, had a range of slots available