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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:
LemonMeringueThreePointOneFour · 01/04/2021 13:48

@UnderHisAye

Staff at a makeshift vaccination centre are not going to be in a position to update the medical records of a person who is not present.

Don't waste their time Confused

The pharmacists log everyone's details on an NHS database, so it's not inconceivable they could make a note on there.
lighteincastlewindow · 01/04/2021 13:52

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

I despair. Read the damn thread at least before posting 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

CouldBeOuting · 01/04/2021 14:08

@zafferana

I'd just keep returning to sender OP. You won't be vaccinated if you show up in their place (I volunteer at vaccine centres and we have to check everyone's ID and make sure they have a booking ref no).
I’m not saying that OP should lie about who she is (which she has never said she would try anyway) but when I went for my jab I just gave my name and was ticked off the list. Same with DS, just gave his name and that was it. No ID no booking ref (we were just called and given time and place no letter, no text, no email).
PrudenceDictates · 01/04/2021 14:20

Haven't read the full thread, but I would probably turn up and say that you have called the gp etc and they are not helpful and if this person's vaccination is going to waste you are happy to take it. Worth a try if you want the jab.

They don't have an individual doses with names on, FGS! At mass vaccs centres lots of people are arriving at once and file in, then are directed to the next chair and get the next dose on the trolley. T

There's not a dose for "Mr Singh at 2.30" written on it!

Chickychickydodah · 01/04/2021 14:21

They still need your! Nhs number and date of birth to vaccinate you .

chalktheblockwithglitterchalk · 01/04/2021 14:33

I have had vaccination letters to my home for someOne who doesn't live here. The letters do have a 'tick the box if this person is not at this address' box. So you have anything similarly the envelopes?

WisnaeMe · 01/04/2021 14:58

Take your CHI number and Passport Driving License etc with you. 🌸

Zancah · 01/04/2021 15:00

@Chloemol

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

Crikey, What sort of people pleasing mug would mooch on into town to rectify someone else's mistake that had no bearing on themselves?!
And you could guarantee when you got there they'd do sweet fuck all about it.

TheOrigRights · 01/04/2021 15:02

@Chickychickydodah

They still need your! Nhs number and date of birth to vaccinate you .
No they don't.

I was visiting a relative in a nursing home when they were giving the residents their second dose. The doc asked me if I would like my first while I was there. I gave him my name and DOB and it was all logged on the centralised computer system (I'm in England).

TrojaninTroy · 01/04/2021 15:11

I don't see how you can, unless you know their dob. You would need this to register for the jab and get a booking reference.

SoupDragon · 01/04/2021 15:16

That's a tad different from turning up to someone else's medical appointment, though.

Yes, I never said it wasn't. Posters keep saying how wrong it is to have opened the post.

FlyingBurrito · 01/04/2021 15:19

Once the vaccine is made up (which will be before people start arriving) the shelf life is very limited. I think it's about 12 hours. So if it's not all used within one vaccination session then yes, it goes to waste

There was vaccine centre person talking on the radio recently who said it's not like that.I don't think they "open" all the AZ vials at the start of the day, they "open" as they go so the number potentailly left at the end of the day is the number left in vials that they have already started which is max 10 per vial. There isn't an issue with large numbers of AZ jabs having to be thrown away. I know it might be different with pfizer but afaik there's no "making up" involved with AZ

SoupDragon · 01/04/2021 15:25

they "open" as they go

That's how it was when I had mine. I had to wait whilst they prepared the next batch.

BonnyandPoppy · 01/04/2021 15:28

Our health board in Wales have now asked for anyone aged 40-50 who wants to to register on a reserve list to be rung up at short notice to come and get the jab. Presumably as they have so many no shows at the moment. Mine also was a letter with a specific time and place for the jab as was my husbands so it definitely is like that in Wales.

I would turn up and explain and maybe they will give it to you. If they say no I would gracefully and quietly leave. No harm done.

BrownEyedGirl80 · 01/04/2021 15:34

If you fall in the age group currently being vaccinated then I suppose there's a chance they would let you have it.If you're fairly young I wouldn't bother trying.

Frickssake · 01/04/2021 15:41

Didn't get an appointment letter. Just received a text with a link to book both of mine. Did everyone else get a letter?

ProfessionalWeirdo · 01/04/2021 15:43

@SeaToSki

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

No - worst case: they don't give you the jab and they DON'T amend the records.
EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 01/04/2021 15:55

Completely understand that you'd open the letters - I don't house share, so start off with the presumption that anything delivered to me is mine.

If they keep sending repeat appointments - phone them or return the mail?
As others have said, they do check NHS number at the centre, DOB, etc
NHS number will be in the letter - can't remember if DOB was - but even if it is, if they're expecting a 50 year old male, and a 30 year old woman turns up, they'd probably notice.
Added to which, the record of vaccination will end up on the other persons health record - so YABU to take the appointment.

yeOldeTrout · 01/04/2021 21:38

I must have been asked my DoB at least 4x when I went for my jab.

Also asked if I was participant in a vaccine trial, history of allergies, had had any other jabs recently, if I had isolated or been exposed to covid or had covid symptoms.

PandaFluff · 01/04/2021 21:41

It won't stop the letters coming though

yeOldeTrout · 01/04/2021 21:47

That type of chasing up non-vacced has been passed to our county council. My guess is someone from the council will come knock on the door, and that will finally trigger a stop to OP's letters.

Original poster
AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 05/04/2021 19:28

In case anyone was wondering, I turned up, explained the situation, provided a hospital letter of my own which mentions some of my medical conditions (so I think I'm group 6, but can't be sure) and asked to be jabbed.

They checked with management and I was duly vaccinated Easter Grin

OP posts:
EmpressWitchDoesntBurn · 05/04/2021 19:29

Great ending!

BonnyandPoppy · 05/04/2021 20:03

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages yeah well done

Egghead81 · 04/05/2021 07:06

* When I went there was a woman at the door with a clip board. She asked my name, put a tick against it on her board and ushered me in.*
At no point was I asked for ID, NHS Number, text message or anything else.

This women was appallingly remiss and was absolutely not carrying out what she was trained to do.