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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to turn up to a vaccination appointment that isn't mine?

127 replies

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 31/03/2021 21:02

Situation is that I keep getting vaccination appointment letters for two people who haven't lived at this address for many years, if they ever did (I've never heard of them).

I've tried ringing the cancellation line, but can never get through - you just get cut off, so it's not even a case of being on hold for ages.

I've tried returning the letters to sender with a note on the front - to no avail.

I tried calling the nearest GP - they were unable to help.

Every time these people are "no shows" at their vaccination appointment, they issue a new letter with a new date and time, so yet more appointments are wasted.

In the local press today there's a story about staff being "in tears" and vaccinations going to waste due to 'no shows'.

So, having tried and failed to tell them that these people no longer live here, WIBU to turn up at the correct appointment slot, explain and see if I can get jabbed?

OP posts:
EmpressWitchDoesntBurn · 31/03/2021 21:05

It’s got to be worth a try. Even if they don’t give you the jab, at least you can hopefully sort out the address mixup.

Welldarn · 31/03/2021 21:09

Sadly when you turn up, they will ask you what your name is, and unless you are planning to pretend you are the other person, I don’t think they will let you have a jab.

PolarnOPirate · 31/03/2021 21:11

I would try at least, you’ve already tried everything else reasonable and what’s the worst that can happen.

Original poster
AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 31/03/2021 21:11

@Welldarn

Sadly when you turn up, they will ask you what your name is, and unless you are planning to pretend you are the other person, I don’t think they will let you have a jab.
I'm not planning to lie about my identity! One's a bloke and one's an Asian name, so I wouldn't get away with it anyway Grin Anyway, it would come back to bite me in future, if vaccine passports come in.

I've run out of ways to tell them these people will never be turning up to their appointment though!

Don't ask, don't get...

OP posts:
Crawdallio · 31/03/2021 21:12

Why are you opening other people's letters?
When I get nhs letters for former occupants there is a clear "private" headline and a box to tick to say the person no longer lives at the address. You are meant to write "return to sender" and pop it back in the postbox.

PolarnOPirate · 31/03/2021 21:12

Also I know a fair few people who have just turned up at vax centres and been jabbed (end of day) so I don’t really see the difference here.

User57392985 · 31/03/2021 21:13

@Crawdallio

Why are you opening other people's letters? When I get nhs letters for former occupants there is a clear "private" headline and a box to tick to say the person no longer lives at the address. You are meant to write "return to sender" and pop it back in the postbox.
She already did return to sender, by the sounds of her OP.
Original poster
AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 31/03/2021 21:14

@Crawdallio

Why are you opening other people's letters? When I get nhs letters for former occupants there is a clear "private" headline and a box to tick to say the person no longer lives at the address. You are meant to write "return to sender" and pop it back in the postbox.
There was no 'private' on the front of these envelopes - or anything else to identify what it was. Having opened the first one automatically because it came through the front door, I now know what the envelopes look like and have started to recognise them (there's been about 6 so far)
OP posts:
SparklyLeprechaun · 31/03/2021 21:15

Waste of time. They won't give you the jab and they won't fix the address either.

Chloemol · 31/03/2021 21:16

Why not just go to the vaccination centre and tell them? They can amend the records then

ZeroFuchsGiven · 31/03/2021 21:16

You could try but I've just been for mine an hour ago and there is no way I would have been allowed In without my name and NHS number.

PullingAtTeeth · 31/03/2021 21:16

If you’ve got time I’d definitely turn up in their place and explain the situation. Worst that can happen is you’re turned away but at least you’ve tried not to waste the appointment. Hopefully they’ll jab you anyway

ZeroFuchsGiven · 31/03/2021 21:18

There was no 'private' on the front of these envelopes - or anything else to identify what it was. Having opened the first one automatically because it came through the front door, I now know what the envelopes look like and have started to recognise them (there's been about 6 so far)

Im surprised by this as when my letter arrived on Monday it was ina bright blue envelope with NHS logo and private on the front.

Chouxbuncity · 31/03/2021 21:21

Did it not have the persons name on the front of the envelope? Just return to sender 🤷‍♀️

Rubyupbeat · 31/03/2021 23:02

It's likely they will give you a habit if its st the end of a session. My friend went with her partner for his jab and they asked if she had hers, she said no and they gave her a jab, so many get wasted.
It's worth a try.

Rubyupbeat · 31/03/2021 23:02

Jab not habit !

Original poster
AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 01/04/2021 10:00

@Chouxbuncity

Did it not have the persons name on the front of the envelope? Just return to sender 🤷‍♀️
Did you not read the OP? I've tried returning it to sender, but the letters keep coming, more appointments are missed, and more vaccine doses are binned.
OP posts:
skirk64 · 01/04/2021 10:07

You are allowed to open other people's mail if you have a good reason to, for example in the OP's case trying to stop letters being sent to someone who doesn't live there.

It's only an offence if you open the mail to prevent the sender receiving it, commit fraud or just be plain nosey, that sort of thing.

I still get letters for previous occupants who haven't lived in my home for at least five years. "Return to sender" doesn't stop some companies continuing to send the letters.

RampantIvy · 01/04/2021 10:11

You could try but I've just been for mine an hour ago and there is no way I would have been allowed In without my name and NHS number.

That is the case. I wasn't allowed in to the vaccination hub without showing the text I received with my number on.

FOJN · 01/04/2021 10:17

I think it's worth a try. I'd explain what you've tried to do to prevent vaccines being wasted so now you've turned up in the hope they will give you a jab because the person the appointment is for won't be coming.

SeaToSki · 01/04/2021 10:37

Best case, they give you the jab
Worst case, they dont give you the jab and amend the records to take the missing people off the list

Worth a try

yeOldeTrout · 01/04/2021 10:38

more vaccine doses are binned

I'm not sure about that. Don't the letters ask them to confirm attendance?

RampantIvy · 01/04/2021 10:54

I doubt that they are binning AZ vaccines. Storage for them isn't as critical.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 01/04/2021 10:55

@yeOldeTrout

more vaccine doses are binned

I'm not sure about that. Don't the letters ask them to confirm attendance?

When I got my letter I had to go online on the nhs website and make an appointment with my NHS number, They did not give me an appointment.
CharlotteRose90 · 01/04/2021 10:56

You won’t get the jab. I volunteer in one and we ask for name, DOB and the reference number for the booking. You’ll be turned away same as other people that have tried it.

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