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?!

@rainbowunicorn I did get a message from the doc, called them up and they said they have no more apts. Told me to go to the pharmacy. So I have one booked end of the month now

[quote Happyspud]@ilovesooty, did you tell them you'd just had the pneumonia jab? I'm not sure you can have the two so close together?[/quote]
I had the flu jab first. Yes, I did tell them that when I had the pneumonia jab.

I got my letter saying there was a place to book and go to at the end of October bit late I thought and I Went bit of a faff but needed and was going to book.

Had my review Prior for my diabetes and got one then from the nurse instead so saved me booking and going to another place other than the GP.

[quote Happyspud]@ilovesooty, did you tell them you'd just had the pneumonia jab? I'm not sure you can have the two so close together?[/quote]
I got mine on the same day last year is there a reason not to give together?

I went to my local paydens chemist and had mine. I knew they weren't taking walk ins as such but I asked after school run one morning to book in and the pharmacist did it there and then. He did say though, that he only had 12 for that day and has only got roughly that amount every day. He said for some reason, there is some sort of shortage. Funny, because this year I imagine people will be 1000% wanting to have the flu jab due to covid. Should have been prepared for this and over produced if anything.

I booked early and paid £9 for a jab at Tescos. No problem booking it, although it was a couple of weeks ago.

Re the work vouchers. My DD is a teacher and her 'work' has arranged vouchers for all the staff to get jabs at Tescos. A nurse normally does it in school but this isn't happening this year because of covid.

I get one for me, my husband and my dad every year but book online in August for the earliest possible appointments every year also.

My employer normally does the Boots scheme but isn't this year. However I had already made an appointment with Asda for me and my teen as the Boots one is layer in the season. I'd rather pay £8pp and be protected sooner. My appointment is this week and was booked about a month ago. Lots of places offer it.

I had mine (paid) at Boots two weeks ago, and probably booked it was weeks before that?

Normally I'd get mine from my employer - we have BUPA come in to administer to anyone who wants it - but as we are still WFH that's not an option this year. I imagine there's alot of others like me who usually wouldn't need to book through a pharmacy.

The problem is that vaccines are ordered a year in advance, and this year a lot more people now fit into the Eligible criteria. In addition to this, more people are choosing to have the vaccine this year, understandably. This is going to mean that they run out quicker, apparently NHS England have purchased all the surplus vaccines and they will be distributed at a later date, but no-one know how or when this will happen nor who will get these.
Already a lot of surgeries have placed their order for next year, but are having to guess regarding quantity as again no one know who will be entitled to it next year. The vaccines have the be paid for, and whilst they can claim to money back to those which they give out, if like in past years there is not a big take up, then it can cost a lot of money.

I got a Sunday walk in without appointment for £12.95 with Kamsons small chain pharmacy

Www.kamsons.co.uk

@thecatsatonthewall that’s great, glad it worked

@HelloHello89 and that prevented you booking an appointment earlier why ?

I got one at my local chemist as a walk in.

I do normally get one. Seems sensible to get one this year.

I’m not sure it is purely selfish, if I don’t get it, it means I can’t pass it on to anyone. It’s the same reason children get the vaccine at schools. It also means I’m not taking up a covid test if I get a high temperature / cough with it. But yes the main reason is selfish that I don’t want to be ill.

In the late few years I have walked into a pharmacy near my office and had it there and then. Its in an area with lots of offices and the pharmacy is upstairs at the back so most people don’t know it’s there.

However, I book for the rest of the family and the last few years Boots has always booked then cancelled.

We are all ‘done’ now thankfully. Lord help us if they do get a Covid jab because I can’t see how it can be delivered.

Oh - are the schools generally getting supplies? I spoke to our school nurse and she said that she just wasn’t sure and if I saw any jabs elsewhere to grab them with both hands.

Schools get mostly nasal with a few injections for those that can’t have the nasal one.
So I should imagine they are fairly unaffected.
But that’s only my guess

GP surgery sent out a mass text weeks ago for those who are eligible, it's something they've done for a few years now. Iirc consent needed to be given and there was a couple of options.

zeebee that's nonsense.
It's the same vaccine produced months in advance. They don't amend it halfway through the flu season! 😆
And the pneumovac can be given with the flu vaccine.
Practice nurse.

@cptartapp

zeebee that's nonsense. It's the same vaccine produced months in advance. They don't amend it halfway through the flu season! 😆 And the pneumovac can be given with the flu vaccine. Practice nurse.

No it is not nonsense. It says on the NHS website : "Flu vaccine ingredients

There are several types of injected flu vaccine. None of them contains live viruses so they are called inactivated vaccines.

If you're eligible for the flu vaccine on the NHS, you'll be offered one that's most effective for you, depending on your age:

adults aged 18 to 64 – there are different types, including low-egg and egg-free ones
adults aged 65 and over – the most common one contains an extra ingredient to help your immune system make a stronger response to the vaccine" and this is what I was told by the pharmacist when I got mine . While basic ingredients may be the same certain parts of it are stronger . Not a practice nurse.

The company I work for paid for mine, although I've had it for the past few years (Paid for by me) because 5 years ago I had flu at christmas and was in bed for all of christmas and new year, and I genuinely cannot afford to have to do that again.
Its not being selfish imo

I booked with Boots weeks ago, turned up last week for my appointment only to be told they had no record of my booking and there was nothing they could do as don't have any vaccine left. Exact same issue for the lady in the queue in front of me, and anecdotally for others. Seems Boots have royally cocked up this year. However went on the Emis Patient Access app and selected book a private appointment (ie I'm not entitled to it free) and it came up with a selection of independent pharmacies in my area that were still booking appointments / had vaccine, so managed to get it done on Mon at a Day Lewis pharmacy - seems like others have had no issues at Day Lewis (and pharmacist told me they had plenty of vaccine left so maybe try there OP) - was cheaper than Boots too!

Boots always do this from my experience! But I know someone who booked after me and still got her shot (she isn’t in any risk categories so who knows how?).

We had arranged to get ours with Lloyds then they cancelled a few hours before due to not having stocks for under 65s. My H was able to get one through his diabetic nurse at our GPs. I have since been done at Lloyds.

I think they don’t do kids do they?