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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

AmelieTaylor · 01/04/2021 11:49

Christ on a bike

Would everyone stop stating that what happened to them, or happens where they work, is the only way!!!

It's being handled differently everywhere

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages

You've nothing other than a little time to lose by trying.

Local hub have been vaccinating anyone turning up at the end of the day if they have vaccine, until it runs out. This week they've invited teachers in from 11am. (It's caused logistical chaos at the schools, but all for the greater good)

Cattermole · 01/04/2021 11:50

My DH has had his first jab as a result of a call from the GP. About a week later he had not one, but TWO letters inviting him to book at a vaccination centre, one after another a day apart. (So obviously two copies in the same mailing, not that he hadn't responded to the first and they were chasing!)

It was very tempting to go along and pretend to be Mr Mole, but I didn't.

Goodytoshoes · 01/04/2021 11:51

@Hallyup5

Vaccine doses won't be being binned because someone doesn't turn up for an appointment. You also won't be able to walk into a vaccination centre and take someone else's dose. Just keep returning the letters to the sender. It might be irritating but eventually they'll get the message.

They will because they can't refreeze the vaccine, sadly.

PrudenceDictates · 01/04/2021 11:51

Sounds like it varies in different places. Some have baldly stated that it is not appointment but an invitation to book, but that’s certainly not how it works everywhere. Both DH and I just got letters with an appointment for our local mass vaccination centre.

I had mine yesterday. There were no people “amending records” as some have suggested, and why would you travel there to do that anyway rather than phone?

Wait for your own appointment, OP.

Wheresthebeach · 01/04/2021 11:53

Well I'd pop to the vaccine centre, explain the problem, ask them to sort it. Time the visit for the app't time and see if you can get the shot!

CounsellorTroi · 01/04/2021 11:56

I had my first jab last week and was asked in the letter to take some form of ID - passport or utility bill - and was asked to show it.

I was not asked to confirm my attendance. The letter told me when and where to go. Also got a text reminder on the morning.

FlyingBurrito · 01/04/2021 11:57

@AmelieTaylor

Christ on a bike

Would everyone stop stating that what happened to them, or happens where they work, is the only way!!!

It's being handled differently everywhere

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages

You've nothing other than a little time to lose by trying.

I was going to post the same thing, 30 millions jabs given and still people persist in thinking that every single one of them was booked and delivered in the same way. Why?

GabsAlot · 01/04/2021 11:58

my dh got a generic letter to make an appt not an actual appt

when i went they asked my dob so you wont get it unless theyve got spare and want to use them up

BlokeHereInPeace · 01/04/2021 11:59

The volunteers in the vaccine centre won't have the ability to access the NHS database that is generating these letters. If the GP is mentioned, tell the GP admin that they might want to write to the patients to see if they are still there (they won't). There's no law against rocking up to the vacc centre and explaining things, maybe you will get a jab, but they are being reserved for people over 50 and second jabs for the next few weeks.

GabsAlot · 01/04/2021 11:59

have you tried calling 119

Tinydinosaur · 01/04/2021 11:59

Worth a crack. Don't argue the point if they say no but just explain and see if they'll agree. You've nothing to lose.

Original poster

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 01/04/2021 12:01

It's not an invitation to book, it's a letter stating that the addressee must turn up at a certain location at a specific time and date.

I live in Wales and NHS Wales must be doing it in a different way to NHS England.

I know they can't have been notified and turned up because each has now had 3 letters, despite my best efforts!

OP posts:

Confusedandshaken · 01/04/2021 12:01

It can't hurt to turn up and ask. I know people who have done this for various reasons. Some were turned away. Some got lucky - the centre had extra capacity and they were vaccinated on the spot. Just make sure you have your NHS number with you.

CounsellorTroi · 01/04/2021 12:05

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages. Yes I am in Wales too.

Gwenhwyfar · 01/04/2021 12:08

@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.

I'm not in the Uk, but I share a letter box with my neighbours and 'invitation to vaccination' is printed on the ENVELOPES so I obviously know they've been invited. It's clearly not considered confidential.

Gwenhwyfar · 01/04/2021 12:10

I definitely know of cases in Wales where spouses have been given the job the same time as each other when they turned up together even though only one of them had the appointment, so there is obviously some flexibility.
I'm talking similar aged spouses though e.g. one of them might be in the next group along, not a 40 year old being jabbed the same time as a 70 year old.

nwatty · 01/04/2021 12:11

@LemonTT

The letter is not confirming appointment. It is offering the named recipient the choice to book.

The letter shouldn’t be opened. It should be returned.

The NHS cannot (for perfectly valid reasons) automatically change gp registration details because this would remove the person from the gp list. It will do eventually but not on first try and following national processes. The vaccination centre definitely won’t do it

The overwhelming GP standard offer of a vaccination is to do it 3 times. The letters from the NBS are issued nationally in standard formats.

It would be beyond exceptional that a gp practice is sending our letters never mind 6 of them.

No you won’t get vaccinated if you aren’t eligible at most centres.

It depends where you are. In Scotland the letter contains an appointment with a set time and place, we do not go online and book and appointment as I believe is the case down south.

PrudenceDictates · 01/04/2021 12:12

To all the “it can’t hurt” people (presume few of them have actually had the vaccine) the whole process is run very tightly and efficiently with no faffing, and people proceeding along lines. Someone turning up and blathering about not having an appointment but having cards for people not at her address, and why not just give jab to me instead (OP won’t be on their database) is going to hold things up.

And no they won’t be tripping over themselves with gratitude that OP is using up a “spare” dose. They won’t have her details, and in any case they will already have factored in an expected uptake, and made provision for excess doses.

GrumpyHoonMain · 01/04/2021 12:12

They don’t bin doses. If someone has cancelled an appointment once many hospitals / vaccination centres often offer the same appointment as a leftover vaccine to someone who doesn’t quite qualify with the provisio it isn’t guaranteed. Many also offer unused vaccines leftover at the end of the day to emergency services / schools / university students. There isn’t actually much wastage at all.

DeadHeadedDaisy · 01/04/2021 12:29

It's definitely worth a try. Good luck!

ZeroFuchsGiven · 01/04/2021 12:32

NHS number or booking reference? Not the same thing.

Both, it was a really tight run ship,

Got to door was asked to sanitise hands and change into surgical mask, Was then directed down a hall to someone who went through a list of covid symptoms and asked if I had any.

I was then directed down another hall to another person who asked me for my name, dob and booking reference.

Then I was directed to a nurse on a laptop who asked me for my NHS number, name address, dob etc and went through all the side effects and I had to consent to the jab.

I was then directed to another nurse behind a screen who again asked my name and dob and administerd the vaccine.

I then had to go check in with someone else and get my vaccination card and sticker and was then directed to another person who was checking people were not driving themselves before I was free to leave

There is no way anyone could have turned up in my place and know all the info I was asked.

ProcrastinationIsMySuperPower · 01/04/2021 12:35

Trust me when I say that the vaccine doses are not binned! Unused doses from no-shows are offered out to the emergency services at the end of each day as short notice appointments, many of my colleagues have benefited (though not myself sadly as I don't work late evening shifts).

You really shouldn't be opening mail addressed to someone that isn't you. Shred the letters, or keep returning as not known at the address, although I appreciate that has been an exercise in futility so far!

toolazytothinkofausername · 01/04/2021 12:37

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages

It's not an invitation to book, it's a letter stating that the addressee must turn up at a certain location at a specific time and date.

I live in Wales and NHS Wales must be doing it in a different way to NHS England.

I know they can't have been notified and turned up because each has now had 3 letters, despite my best efforts!

I say go for it. Go to the appointment and get the jab!

middleager · 01/04/2021 12:37

How old are you OP?
Are you due to get your vaccine soon anyway?

Viviennemary · 01/04/2021 12:39

Write on the envelope no longer at this address and put it in a post box

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