Covid vaccine rollout - can't find answers elsewhere, so ...

[Addbagg]

The Mumsnet hive-mind may be able to help me understand the logistics of the vaccine rollout a little better. I find it reassuring to understand how things like this work and can't find an explanation anywhere else ...

The NHS website says people will "either" get an invitation from their GP or directly from the NHS or (if relevant) from their employer. But what determines who gets which letter? My working assumption is that:

1. Everyone is on both a local GP list and a regional NHS list (and some on a third employer list). Each list is prioritised according to the NHS guidance but they are all moving at different rates.
2. You get an invitation when you reach the top of any one of the lists.

3a. If you respond to the invitation, attend an appointment and get your first dose your status will be updated on both (or all 3) lists so you don't get another first dose invitation. 3b. If you don't respond, you will eventually reach the top of the other list(s) and get a first dose invitation from there too. (This reasoning is backed up by a BBC article which said people who didn't respond to the NHS letter would eventually get one from their GP ... www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-55605149).

1. There's some sort of timely follow-up mechanism for second-dose invitations too.

Any thoughts or insights?

I received an email form employer (NHS) and it is to register for a vaccine which I was going to do yesterday (Name, DOB, GP, NHS number, where you work, line manager)

A few weeks ago I received a text form my GP asking if I was employed in XYZ (they have all the other details apart form employer).

Yesterday (just as I was about the register) I received a text from my GP surgery inviting me to have the vaccination this is because I’m in the priority list but not at the top (I must take along my nhs work card) and I’m booked for next week

My colleagues (who live in a different borough) have not received anything from their GP and are waiting for an appointment from our employer (NHS) for a vaccine, some have had through employer others not

I expect I shall get booked next week for my second jab and the details will be added to the NHS system

My DH is his DF carer. Does anyone know how my DH gets the jab as he comes under the health and social level ?

My daughter has her first and second appointment booked.

Flipperty
Carers are priority 6. And your DH needs to register with his GP as a carer. (Which all carers should do anyway.) Most likely a quick on line form.

@FippertyGibbett I’m not sure if this is the correct advice, per se, but I would get your husband to call his GP surgery and make sure that his record reflects the fact that he is a carer. This is what my mum has done, who is also a carer. She hasn’t had an invitation for vaccine yet, but hopefully this has ensured she will be on the list.

Health care workers are being identified by employers. The booking system let's the GP know when you've been so you aren't called twice. Second appt booked at the initial appt.

I believe if you vaccinated and this is organised by your work, they contact your GP surgery.
this is why they need your NHS number and GP details.
i assume my GP knows

Unless you work in health and social care which is more complex you have two options.

First option is to book an appointment on the national booking system. This will give you access to Mass Sites and pharmacy sites. These are the new sites starting up this week and over the next couple of weeks. When your cohort is up, a letter is sent to you which has the code that enables you to book. The database for the letter is the NHS patient list (central spine of GP lists). It is sent to everyone in the cohort who lives near a site on the booking system. Near means c30-45 minutes drive time.

The letter also tells you will be offered an appointment by your GPs. They use their own local part of the GP registered list. They will offer an appointment and book it for you. The timing of the callout will depend on their vaccine supply and progress along the cohort list. But they will callout to all their patients who are not vaccinated. They are all able to see if you have already been vaccinated.

The GP lists can identify people by age and health condition. But not things like occupation or carer status. This is the complexity.

GP sites are now established and were meant to do patient groups. They were set up first with Hospital Hubs. The hospitals are meant to do Health and Social care staff employed mainly but not exclusively by the NHS and local authorities.

There are processes in place to ensure all the frontline staff and carers are picked up. Most are easily identified via employer or registering bodies. They will be contacted via them and asked to book via the NHS booking system or a dedicated portal linked to the hospital.

Some GP sites have called in staff and carers to help use up vaccine where they hold the information or where they think it right to do the over 80 and their carer.

I’m sure someone will be along to complain that we don’t have a more streamlined system and single database / portal to book. But that would have needed to have been built. It would have taken for ever and then wouldn’t work. Instead they have used what the NHS has and added on front ends.

@FippertyGibbett

My DH is his DF carer. Does anyone know how my DH gets the jab as he comes under the health and social level ?

You have to be a registered carer. Speak to the GP about that.

@Skipsurvey

I believe if you vaccinated and this is organised by your work, they contact your GP surgery. this is why they need your NHS number and GP details. i assume my GP knows

Exactly this. I’ve had my first dose at work and they have informed my GP in writing. Takes me off my GP list.

I’ve had my first dose through work a month ago and had an appointment for my second dose but that was cancelled. Ive not been given a new appointment yet but in category one.

@lemonTT really useful, thanks. It's helpful to know how the databases join up. I work in the IT industry and remember debates in the 1990s about creating a more integrated system - from memory the privacy issues scuppered their efforts, but things do seem to have moved on a bit.

I am NHS so received mine through work but there is a national list so this is updated that way. There is a list of different priorities but the speed at which you will be offered depends on the availability within your area. Some GPs can offer them in-house, others don’t have the vaccine so you would attend a central hun. The system is working so just respond to whichever invitation you receive first and try not to call GPs etc to ask where you are on the list or where they’re at with it all as this floods the system with no gains.

GP practices are very busy. They are doing normal GP work, delivering oximetry services, contributing staff to the hospital surges and their vaccination services whilst suffering staff absence.

The MN advice to ring and ask for an appointment is not helpful. Most GP practices are not a GP vaccination site and they don’t manage the call or booking side of things for their hubs. You are wasting your time and their time by calling. If you are registered with a practice they will call you. If you not registered the answer is to register.

Six GP practices round me are not offering vaccinations, town has also been so slow in setting up some sort of hub that people been contacting the local MP, so Im not holding my breath, I am in Group 4, so possibly 2022!