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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to accept vaccine invite? (Not on priority list)

64 replies

PicardsFlute · 23/02/2021 11:01

I’m 38. No underlying conditions. Not in any priority groups (that I’m aware of...). Last night I received a Covid vaccine invite by text, from the hospital where I had my baby five years ago - I’ve checked pretty thoroughly and it seems to be legit, but I’m utterly clueless as to why I’ve received it! I’m totally racking my brains but can’t think of anything besides a really bad chest infection a couple of years ago that I was prescribed an inhaler for... but that feels unlikely.

In the course of investigating whether it was a scam I went through the whole booking process and now have two appointments scheduled for both doses! I phoned my GP this morning and they’ve confirmed that I’m not on any priority lists - the receptionist was as confused as I am.

I also called the hospital number provided on the booking form, but the lady on the phone said she doesn’t have access to the reasons why invites have been sent - she did however say that if I have a valid invite then I’m eligible to use it... but it’s very weird, and feels all wrong.

So - what do I do?! I’m obviously v happy to be vaccinated when my turn comes, but it feels really unfair to be vaccinated ahead of others who need it more. On the other hand, I don’t want to be recorded as having declined the vaccine, now that I’ve accidentally booked via an official invite link!

AIBU to attend the appointments, or should I try and cancel them...? Help!

OP posts:
billybagpuss · 23/02/2021 11:40

@LunaHeather it was both DH and I, we are 50+ I guess they intended 60+

LunaHeather · 23/02/2021 11:43

OP - I think postcode is the answer!

billy interesting, wonder what happened there for them to actually cancel.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 23/02/2021 11:46

Just do it.

Don't take up admin time in a system racing to get everyone done.

Everyone done is good for us all.

Mrsjayy · 23/02/2021 12:18

LunaHeather it was both DH and I, we are 50+ I guess they intended 60

The over 50s are just starting to get called in from my gp practice so I guess some areas are getting through quickly, I'm 49 so fingers crossed for ill be soonish.

DDiva · 23/02/2021 12:30

Just go.

Do not just not turn up it may waste a vaccine, dont phone anyone else to check why their time is precious. If you dont use this appointment you might be taken off the list and not be invited again. Just put it down to an error/ old info get your jab and help protect all those around you.

Angel50 · 25/02/2021 12:10

I am surprised at all your responses. Saying just go. There are plenty of people who are carers, have health conditions, learning disabilities or have just been added to the shielding list who are desperate to get the vaccine. It’s rubbish it’s a waste of admin time you only follow a link to cancel or that the vaccine will be wasted. There are mistakes both ways others have been missed off. Personally I think this just isn’t the right thing to do, which I think you know & why you’re asking. You will get your vaccine soon enough, but I think you should let someone else have this one.

Bluntness100 · 25/02/2021 12:13

Op you’re not taking someone else’s slot. There are loads of empty slots. Just do your bit snd go and get it done.

ItsJackieWeaverBitch · 25/02/2021 12:16

Definitely take the slot now and don’t feel guilty about it as you’ve done nothing wrong. It’s better for the “wrong” person to get the vaccine than it go to waste which I believe is a worry that could happen with it and some have been wasted already.

Mrsjayy · 25/02/2021 12:16

Maybe another 30 something person will be offered the vaccine if the op cancels saying oh so and so needs it more but how do you know that it will goto anybody more worthy?

ItsJackieWeaverBitch · 25/02/2021 12:21

@Angel50

I am surprised at all your responses. Saying just go. There are plenty of people who are carers, have health conditions, learning disabilities or have just been added to the shielding list who are desperate to get the vaccine. It’s rubbish it’s a waste of admin time you only follow a link to cancel or that the vaccine will be wasted. There are mistakes both ways others have been missed off. Personally I think this just isn’t the right thing to do, which I think you know & why you’re asking. You will get your vaccine soon enough, but I think you should let someone else have this one.
But there’s no guarantee someone more “worthy” of the vaccine would get the slot of the OP cancelled hers now. I’m a carer for my child who has disabilities and I am still waiting for now for mine and my partner who has a pretty serious condition which effects his immune system has been told he will be contacted in the next couple of weeks for his. I don’t begrudge anyone in the OP’s shoes having theirs before my partner or I have ours, it’s just one of those things and the more people who have the jab and the quicker it’s rolled out, the better.
bridgetreilly · 25/02/2021 12:42

Just do it. The net is cast pretty wide at the moment anyway, and everyone will need doing.

But also, plenty of people have to cancel their appointments because of track and trace isolating, or developing symptoms. It won't cut you out of the system altogether if you do cancel.

Angel50 · 25/02/2021 12:42

Fair enough. There is no guarantee, but the likelihood is that it will go to someone who’s at more risk. I just know a lot of people who are having difficulty getting it because of errors the other way round.

AtLeastPretendToCare · 25/02/2021 12:45

OP exactly the same thing has happened to me, may well be the same hospital. I’m taking it.

RhodaDendron · 25/02/2021 13:15

OP I am in exactly the same boat... same
age, same area, invite from hospital. I was wondering whether it’s because I had diabetes screening (although it was negative) or because I’m still a physiotherapy outpatient of the hospital and they are working their way through everyone who’s an outpatient... I figure it’s a central London hospital so maybe has a younger population than surrounding areas?

Sparklesocks · 25/02/2021 13:20

I was also invited OP, I think because I used to be quite overweight a few years back (even though my GP has weighed me since and I now have a healthy BMI) and it flagged in the system. I had mine as it would've been more admin for them to sort out if I'd flagged, and would've had it eventually anyway so booked my slot. Go for it.

foodtoorder · 25/02/2021 13:25

Go for it, anyone vaccinated is a bonus. No need to feel bad.

Bluntness100 · 25/02/2021 13:26

My husband had his a few days ago, he literally got a slot for first thing the next morning, and there were loads of empty slots and they were sending staff home.

Seriously. Anyone invited needs to go. Use the slots, it’s never going to pick up pace if they don’t.

TheVeryHungryTortoise · 25/02/2021 13:31

@PicardsFlute I work as a vaccinator at a South London Trust and I think you've most likely been invited by our hospitals. This has happened a lot this week with people that I have vaccinated. If you've been invited by our Trust we have been working through our own list of current and historical patients in priority order alongside the government guidelines. If you want the vaccine, go for it! You are not skipping any "queue", we want you to have the vaccine and you deserve it just as much as anyone else in the world.

Mrsjayy · 25/02/2021 13:33

I got my letter yesterday I've to go next week our area seems. To be ploughing through them .

ElBandito · 25/02/2021 13:34

Go. But maybe don't post about it on Facebook Wink

Oblomov21 · 25/02/2021 13:41

Yawn. How many threads on this.

And, If you are someone complaining that one of your relatives hasn't had theirs yet, then I suggest you chase that up, and stop being fobbed off by surgeries who won't respond/ can't get past the receptionist. Be firm. Chase up if you should have been vaccinated.

I chased GP on behalf of my Dh, and he was vaccinated the next day.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 25/02/2021 13:41

@Angel50

Fair enough. There is no guarantee, but the likelihood is that it will go to someone who’s at more risk. I just know a lot of people who are having difficulty getting it because of errors the other way round.
It's not. If you aren't marked as in that group they won't suddenly call up and give you a slot because there are free ones🤷🏻 People should just get the vaccine when invited.
MolotovMocktail · 25/02/2021 13:52

I don’t understand all this talk of people who are vulnerable still waiting for the vaccine. If you are in a vulnerable group you can book the vaccine online. It is extremely easy, nobody vulnerable should be waiting for a vaccine (in the UK).

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 25/02/2021 13:55

I think anyone offered should just take it.

They basically need to get through people one way or another, and logistically it’s surely easier if people just take them!

Fluffycloudland77 · 25/02/2021 14:02

Just book it and go, the more people we do the better.

They’ve done the most vulnerable groups in most areas now.