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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the NHS don't need to spam me RE booster?

40 replies

MollyQueenOfSocks · 31/12/2021 10:48

I have finally had to block NHS No-Reply, NHSBooster and NHSvaccine because I am getting multiple texts a day from each number about booking my booster. I have had 5 so far today.

On top of this I am getting emails rom two different addresses and constant adverts EVERYWHERE from web to TV "Gently reminding" me I need to book a booster. I had my booster weeks ago Hmm

I get it. It needs to be advertised for the reluctant but come on. I don't need upwards of 6 reminders a day in text messages alone.

YABU - People are stupid and need reminders every 3 hours over the day
YANBU - This is excessive

OP posts:
milly74 · 31/12/2021 10:50

yes its ridiculous
I've had my booster, its on my records and still getting multiple texts

Cattitudes · 31/12/2021 10:51

Particularly frustrating when it is your child's number who can't have another vaccine at the moment even if we wanted to. I think that confirmed that it is just a blanket text, but annoying nevertheless.

Nidan2Sandan · 31/12/2021 10:53

Yes, its irritating. I had my booster early december yet I still received 2 messages yesterday reminding me to get it. DH has had it even worse and blocked all the numbers.

I particularly loved seeing fucking Chris Witty on the huge cinema screen telling me to vaccinate 🤮

Squaran · 31/12/2021 10:54

YANBU. Really pissing me off that my DC are getting spammed with booster texts too. Angry

SilverHairedCat · 31/12/2021 10:55

I'd assume most of what you're receiving is spam and scam linked, not genuine. I've had the one text that the government sent out and that's it.

Don't click on any links!

RedWingBoots · 31/12/2021 10:58

The day after I went to a walk-in to get my booster and informed my GP who offered me an appointment I had done so, I was spammed with messages.

It stopped after the weekend.

I suspect some database somewhere haven't got some people's details correctly.

VikingNorthUtsire · 31/12/2021 11:00

I've had my booster and have had zero texts. There are an awful lot of spam messages re vaccines going round.

rrhuth · 31/12/2021 11:00

YABU. Texts are a pretty minor inconvenience in the circs.

Svara · 31/12/2021 11:00

You can forward any spam text messages to OFCOM 7726. They will reply and ask for the number but you can just put the sender name in place of a number if you don't have one.

RosieLemonade · 31/12/2021 11:06

@Nidan2Sandan

Yes, its irritating. I had my booster early december yet I still received 2 messages yesterday reminding me to get it. DH has had it even worse and blocked all the numbers.

I particularly loved seeing fucking Chris Witty on the huge cinema screen telling me to vaccinate 🤮

We had this at Clifford the Big Red Dog. It was quite dystopian! Yes getting constant messages despite being boosted. Not long till we need jab number 4 though so it doesn't matter that much!
milly74 · 31/12/2021 11:12

@Svara

You can forward any spam text messages to OFCOM 7726. They will reply and ask for the number but you can just put the sender name in place of a number if you don't have one.
might do this
KrispyBrussels · 31/12/2021 11:14

Yanbu

LampLighter414 · 31/12/2021 11:17

Wonder how many millions some services company such as Capita has been paid to organise this spam-fest

DdraigGoch · 31/12/2021 11:19

I had the Boxing Day text and that's all.

I feel short-changed now!

Alittlenonsensenowandthen · 31/12/2021 11:19

I agree and it's particularly annoyed me that my kids are getting them too. I understand their need to get as many ppl vaccinated but I also don't like the tone of text. Sounds like it's compulsory when it's not.

ReformedWaywardTeen · 31/12/2021 11:25

I can beat you on those OP.

I had an email and 3 texts telling me yesterday my booster has been cancelled. It even said the date of the booster- 21st December.

Considering yesterday was the 30th December, and I had my booster as (finally) arranged on the 21st December, I'm baffled as to why that was sent.

I'm also getting multiple emails and texts every day. I got called on Christmas Eve by some clipboard person haranguing me that I am "letting the side down" by not having my booster. That it's "very important" to have this and I could die if I don't.
I tried to get a word in edge ways to tell her I'd had my booster but she kept interrupting and so I put the phone down.

I wouldn't mind but I was calling my GP weekly from October as DH is 53 with lung conditions, and I am his carer, to ask about our boosters to be fobbed off and told off and told we don't meet the criteria. Even when I pointed out DHs age and illness, she said that wasn't on their record. We then got dh an appointment for the first week of December despite it being months overdue, only for them to cancel 4 hours before.
We got it done via NHS booking texting us and then got the nurse asking why we hadn't agreed to come along sooner. I had to point out I had wanted to but was denied.

It must be costing the NHS a ridiculous sum of cash to keep texting and calling etc. What an utter waste of resources.

milly74 · 31/12/2021 11:33

yes it is a waste of resources then the NHS moans constantly about its dire state. Laughable

gogohm · 31/12/2021 11:35

Yabu, you haven't had one!

JurgensCakeBabyJesus · 31/12/2021 11:36

They aren't legitimate, make sure not to click any links or contact any numbers contained within them. It's the latest scam, they can make it look like they've come from the proper sources but they haven't.

Blughbablugh · 31/12/2021 11:42

I think there is a glitch in the system somewhere as last week I had 12 text and emails asking me to book my booster in the space of 2 uours and then nothing. I'd already booked my booster before this for next week anyway but that's out as I've just tested positive for covid.

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 31/12/2021 11:44

A couple of days ago, we received the Booster reminder text within minutes of each other. By 'we', I mean:

MIL - already boosted
BIL - double jabbed but no booster
DH & me - not jabbed

Given that the message was not at all targetted, it was most definitely SPAM.

Curiosity101 · 31/12/2021 11:59

It's likely to be because it's significantly cheaper and faster to mass mail/text/email everyone they have details for than to build software to read through the list of people, work out what stage they're at in terms of vaccination and then alert them correctly on just 1 preferred platform.

Annoying but tbh understandable and honestly quite an efficient use of NHS funds compared to the alternative of building software to send the specific message to the correct people just once or twice.

amylou8 · 31/12/2021 12:02

Mine have been constant. I have 2 sims in my phone, both are getting multiple texts, where they're just pushing them out to all numbers. Then I'm getting personalised ones for me and 2 of my 3 adult kids who clearly haven't updated their medical records anytime recently.

GreenWhiteViolet · 31/12/2021 12:02

YANBU. I haven't had a booster. After the second text I clicked on the link, chose 'I don't want one' and wasn't bothered with messages again, which is as it should be (although I did get the Boxing Day spam that went to everyone).

Nobody should be sent numerous texts about it, but as you've had the booster it's even more inexplicable.

One of my family members has had one dose. She's overdue for the second because she had Covid very recently. She gets daily texts about it. It's far too much.

DroopyClematis · 31/12/2021 13:17

I'm sure I read on Twitter ( can't find it now) that the Government had asked all the mobile phone networks to send the message out to try and encourage a bigger uptake.

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