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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Covid Vaccine booking - AIBU?

23 replies

onetimeonlyipromise · 10/03/2021 14:30

I am in priority group 6 (GP has confirmed).

GP practice is saying that the group is large, and they are unlikely to be able to offer an appointment until the end of April (despite fact that all priority groups 1 - 9 should be offered vaccine by mid April).

I have tried booking through 119/online - the website says those in PG can book. They say my records are not showing as eligible and to go back to GP.

Going back to GP, they say medical records are up to date and show PG6, but for some reason they are being told no priority group 6 patient from our surgery can book online - they don’t know why and no way of fixing.

I have complained to 119 (why can I not book, and why can I not simply send them a copy of the email from my surgery confirming and book). They have said will call back on three separate occasions. No call back. No way of progressing complaint at this stage.

So - i am eligible to book a vaccine now, I am in the right priority group, but due to an admin error between my surgery/NHS, I am not able to.

If i go online, I can lie and say I am a social worker/health care worker and book a slot, in the hope that when I get there, I can explain my situation, show the email and get the vaccine. I have not done so yet as i feel I am being a CF. Am i?

YABU - suck it up and wait for a few months.
YANBU - lie online and hope for the best.

If anyone has any alternative options, please let me know!

OP posts:

Ihaveoflate · 10/03/2021 14:36

I wouldn't lie to get the vaccine, but I am in a similar position. I received a letter inviting me to book an appointment and tried to book online, but it said I wasn't eligible. I tried to book via 119 and he said I wasn't eligible, despite the fact I've received a letter.

In my case, I don't feel vulnerable so I won't pursue it. If I did feel particularly vulnerable, I might pursue it but I'm mot sure what else you can do.

Sorry, no alternatives, but no I personally would not lie about being frontline staff - I think it wold feel morally/ethically dubious.

CoffeeRunner · 10/03/2021 14:38

The speed of the roll output does vary from area to area quite significantly.

Where I work, we are on Group 6 (GP run centre) and are on track to have invited everyone in Group 6 by the end of this week. The neighbouring area (where I actually live) started vaccinating later in January & are not working through Group 6 at all yet. DS1 is Group 6.

As for booking online, was that ever available to Group 6 patients? I thought they were being dealt with by GPs & the regional centres were going from Group 5 straight to Group 7? I may have misunderstood though as I only really deal with our patients who book in with us not 119.

CoffeeRunner · 10/03/2021 14:39

Rollout not roll output!

Tippexy · 10/03/2021 14:40

As you are in priority 6, of course you should book it online. Take your 'evidence' with you, on the offchance you'll be asked for it. Am astonished at the poll results, you are clearly not BU!

SendMeHome · 10/03/2021 14:42

I wouldn’t lie.

Your GP will have to get their arses into gear, they won’t want to be one of the only places still vaccinating people and Boris will be keen to announce that everything has gone to plan.

Keep the pressure on them, but wait.

My GP told me my jab would be at the start of June, and then I was invited a few weeks ago, if that helps at all. Their future planning is dire because they have little info to go off. It’s all dependent on people booking/vaccines arriving/etc.

ErickBroch · 10/03/2021 14:43

You don't get questioned when you get your vaccine on why/how you booked. So you don't need to worry about proof at all.

Londonmummy66 · 10/03/2021 14:46

I volunteer at a vaccination centre and they are incredibly strict about requiring evidence of being a healthcare worker - no proof no vaccine is very much the order of the day. I cannot imagine that they would agree to vaccinate you on that basis with no evidence that you are one.

Original poster

onetimeonlyipromise · 10/03/2021 14:47

@CoffeeRunner

The speed of the roll output does vary from area to area quite significantly.

PG6 weren’t able to previously book online, but it changed last week (maybe the start of last week) to allow people to book.

I was tentatively told, when I requested a call back from a manager at 119 to explain what was going on, that I could expect a call in 5 - 6 days...maybe. He seemed surprised that I thought this was a long time, so I think that gives me an indication of what is going on!

OP posts:

CoffeeRunner · 10/03/2021 14:49

@ErickBroch

You don't get questioned when you get your vaccine on why/how you booked. So you don't need to worry about proof at all.

At some centres you do, at some you don’t.

I know that one of the regional hubs a few miles from here will not vaccinate anyone without ID if they have booked as a health care worker rather than the “system” recognising them as eligible.

Akire · 10/03/2021 14:50

I don’t think using the carer booking system will help as they will tick they have seen evidence or whatever it is that they do.

I can’t book either should be group 6. GP saying they have till the end of April to do us!

Meowchickameowmeow · 10/03/2021 14:50

If you lie then yes you are a cheeky fucker.

WhenLifeReturns · 10/03/2021 14:52

@ErickBroch

You don't get questioned when you get your vaccine on why/how you booked. So you don't need to worry about proof at all.

I got questioned. The woman was like... "So you're clearly not over 60 so how comes your getting vaccinated today" I felt like a fraud!!

Moelwynbach · 10/03/2021 14:53

You would need to prove that you are a SW etc by showiyour ID badge or your professional registration which you won't have. Its a pain in the arse the whole system.

milveycrohn · 10/03/2021 14:56

I thought I would add my own experience here.
I received a text with a link to book. Although the text claimed to be my GP surgery, it was not the normal surgery text address I get when I have booked a GP appointment on line.
So, I actually rang the GP surgery to make sure it was not a scam, and yes, OK to book.
The link, offered a choice of 2 locations - GP surgery or local Hospital, but both stated 'no appointments available'. I kept checking each day for the next week, until able to make an appointment.
So, in your case, I would keep checking, but if you are not able to book after a week, then contact your surgery

JemimaTiggywinkle · 10/03/2021 14:59

How old are you? At this rate the online booking might be opened up to your age group before you can resolve the problem.

SooMoony · 10/03/2021 15:09

I'm a nurse and I got asked to take my work ID badge to my first vaccination but there were no ID checks for the second one. Please don't lie to get your vaccination earlier.

ErickBroch · 10/03/2021 15:11

@WhenLifeReturns I work as a vaccinator and none of the centres I have worked at have done so. Bizarre.

Original poster

onetimeonlyipromise · 10/03/2021 15:13

@JemimaTiggywinkle

How old are you? At this rate the online booking might be opened up to your age group before you can resolve the problem.

I’m in my 30s. So at the current rate, my guess is June sometime?

OP posts:

Findahouse21 · 10/03/2021 15:16

@ErickBroch

You don't get questioned when you get your vaccine on why/how you booked. So you don't need to worry about proof at all.

If you book a vaccine as a result of your employment then lots of areas do ask for proff of your job. We had to take current ID or a payslip

ErickBroch · 10/03/2021 15:17

@Findahouse21 we usually have an early morning slot each day for health workers and NHS staff but at the place i mainly work where they would see ID but if OP had booked a usual appt, where I usually work, they have not been asking for any proof. We have had people of all ages come in, as young as 19. I am not disagreeing with anyone by the way it was just not my experience - good to know

Cookerhood · 10/03/2021 15:23

I wasn't asked for evidence - it seemd that as long as I was on the list I was OK. DS (at a different centre) was given a very hard time - he's a volunteer & was told he was eligible, 119 booked him in with no problem but the vaccination centre were really quite unkind to him. He got vaccinated but came home feeling that he'd done something wrong.

Welikebeingcosy · 10/03/2021 15:32

I would suggest your idea to your GP or even phone the vaccination centre/go down there to explain. Ask your GP if he or she thinks your idea is okay and if so to write you a letter to explain the situation to give at the appointment if you get questioned. Or go down to the vaccination centre with proof of your condition and priority group approval by GP and ask to speak to them about the situation and if that would be okay with them if you booked it that way. Good luck!

EnjoyingTheArmoire · 10/03/2021 15:52

Group six is a huge group, and I know how hard the waiting is because I have been in the same position (until today as it happens).

You just need to wait for your GP to contact you.

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