To think there is no chance 18 million will be boosted by 31 Dec?

[JadedJabber]

Name changed for this as would be outing with previous posts.

Am I alone in feeling quite angry that Boris Johnson has announced what is likely to be an unreachable target and will be causing untold pressure and stress in the primary and secondary care workforces who are already exhausted?

I was very closely involved in the rollout of phases 1 and 2 of the vaccine programme last winter/ spring for a large NHS trust. Everyone was 100% committed to the vaccines and our workforce was incredible despite a lot of challenges particularly around the time taken to train as a vaccinator and disruption to business as usual in the trust. Despite that the best day was c800K jabs and most were significantly less.
Johnson has glibly talked about training 1000’s of new vaccinators. Well unless the mandatory training is axed to a fraction of what is was earlier this year that will be impossible.

It seems so easy for him to make these pronouncements without any thought as to how this will actually play out in practice.

I can’t see the (exhausted and less motivated) workforce suddenly expanding and then working 12 + hours a day from now until 31 Dec, including Christmas. It just sets everyone up for failure.

@ancientgran

Does anyone know if you have a booked appointment do you still have to queue with the walk ins or is there a separate queue? Thanks if anyone knows how it works.

It will vary according to how your site operates. Also, places that didn't have separate queues previously may do so now because of sheer numbers. Our local walk in is now only accepting those with appointments as they had queues round the block & fights breaking out with people pushing in & traffic chaos.

@ancientgran

Does anyone know if you have a booked appointment do you still have to queue with the walk ins or is there a separate queue? Thanks if anyone knows how it works.

When I had mine done last week as a walk-in, there was a separate queue. But that was eight days ago…

Thanks Cookerhood and oneglassandpuzzled, I had mine in October but I need to take someone next week on the 23rd, last day the mass vaccination centre is open and I'm really hoping I don't have to stand there for 5 hours. I'm dreading it.

@WhatDidISayAlan

I’m a civil servant in housing and other half is at DfEd and we’ve both received emails from our employers asking us to volunteer for 6 days up to end Dec, poss end January. We’ll be paid our normal salary. Suspect most civil servants will have received a similar email. I’m not taking away anything from the NHS, the staff of which must be on their knees with exhaustion, but some got depts are in a similar position. It really annoys me that Boris has made an announcement without thinking for one second about how he is going to implement it.

It really annoys me that Boris has made an announcement without thinking for one second about how he is going to implement it.

But working for the Dep of Education I bet your husband wasn't surprised. Exactly the same with schools @WhatDidISayAlan