Flu jab at GP or Pharmacy

[justasking111]

Okay our GP is on the seafront no shelter as you queue for appointment so aibu to opt for a warm dry pharmacy to have my jab??

I'm okay but seeing the elderly queuing to talk into an intercom, we have a lot of elderly here seems inhumane. My dogs at the vets during height of covid were seen indoors

Either is absolutely fine

Go to the pharmacy if you prefer

I went to the pharmacy, I'm the only member of the family who has so far got their flu jab other's have been called in by the doctor but need to wait for a clinic they can attend so it's a bit slower.

Pharmacy - leave the GP for people who need them

If I waited for my gp surgery to contact me it would be months from now. I've already had my flu jab at a pharmacy, it was so convenient and easy.

i went to a local pharmacy and it was excellent

I went to a local pharmacy and got the appointment much faster than I would have had I waited for GP, and no queue when I got there. Pharmacy is inside a supermarket so I could also do my shopping at the same time.

@0blio

If I waited for my gp surgery to contact me it would be months from now. I've already had my flu jab at a pharmacy, it was so convenient and easy.

This is my position as well . Our GP seems so disorganised this year , every other year I’ve been invited by them before the end of Sept , this year they aren’t even starting until mid Oct and that’s over 65s so no idea when they would get to me .

Is what you're actually asking, are the GP being unreasonable to make people queue outside in the cold?

Of course you're NBU to go to a pharmacy

Up to you, do what you want.

Hmmmm, this year pharmacy orders for the vaccine were prioritised over the stock going to GP surgeries. With all the GP hate in the news I'm being to suspect there's an agenda somewhere....

Always Pharmacy far less sick people about in and out plenty of room and far more accessible For wheelchair than my GP.

I book mine September have parents in 70s with health issue don’t get them till late oct. GP are so slow would prob get mine in Jan

Our GP always ask that if you are eligible for a free flu jab then please use them rather than a pharmacy because of the funding they receive for doing them.

Last year I had mine done at the surgery, like a cattle market. This week had it done at my small local branch of Boots. No queue, lovely pharmacist, sat down in nice quiet room. Very different experience, don't think I'll bother with the surgery again.

@MaggieFS

Our GP always ask that if you are eligible for a free flu jab then please use them rather than a pharmacy because of the funding they receive for doing them.

I think alot of small pharmacies are struggling, I know two in my fairly small town that have closed in the last couple of years so maybe they need the funding as well. I've thought about having my regular prescription on one of those online services but I've decided if we want local pharmacies we need to use them so I walk round there every month.

I've just booked mine at the GP surgery where I had it last year (in the new over 50 qualification). The appointments are given in 2 minute slots (DH is 2 mins after me). You literally walk in, book in, get directed to a room, roll up your sleeve, get jabbed and walk out of the back door. There was no queue - just a constant stream of people walking through a one way system. I don't think any of the pharmacies around here have enough space to do any sort of volume.

Pharmacy £15

@freshcarnation

Pharmacy £15

Not always it depends.

My DH booked his through the doctor and he had to queue for over 30mins to get his.

I took my mum to the pharmacy and she was in and out in less then 5 mins.

I've got mine booked at the pharmacy next month.

Pharmacy you can book date and time. GP it’s why what you are given and be greatful. Surely if boots can make money on them let them get on with it. GP can do home visits or those who can’t get to shops easily

Pharmacy, free if you are eligible for an NHS one which I am. It was easier for me to book in at Boots on a convenient day (Saturday) and not have to stand in the rain at the GP with the people I passed on my way to boots.

I received a text from my gp to book in for mine today which surprised me as it’s normally later, I am 37 with a medical condition but it means they have already gone through the over 65’s. Booked a 5 minute slot online and hopefully like last year it will be in one door and out the other with no queuing 🤞

Mine is booked at GP surgery next week. I'll struggle to stand if I have to wait, but they'll make allowances. I don't trust the narrative of devolving everything healthcare to private companies so will use GP when I can, or next year we may find that GPs are very limited in the flu vaccines they can offer as people have expressed their preference. The closest pharmacy to us offering them is 15 miles, so those that can't drive will be screwed. GP for me, but each to their own.

Gp's make money on them too. It all goes in the pot that for example, will pay my wages for extra clinics to be put on so you have less of a wait for your smear or your DC childhood immunisations etc.
Delayed this year though so can see why pharmacies are more popular.

My GP surgery hasn’t even started booking clinics for the eligible under 65s - they still have no idea when they’ll have the vaccine delivered (no problem with over 65s, they’ve been vaccinating that age group over the last two weekends).
I’m eligible and I’ve booked into a pharmacy rather than wait for the surgery.

My GPs started this week -DH has been and I am going on Monday - could have gone tomorrow but Monday was more convenient

There was a gp on here who seemed quite annoyed that people were going to the surgery for a jab rather going elsewhere. Said it added to the million of other things they had to do. So from a GPS pov it would seem its fine to go to a chemists. I had mine at Boots and a family member is having her covid jab at a chemists too.