Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Vaccination appt - organisation

53 replies

butimariot · 30/01/2022 10:47

I'll preface this by saying I adore the NHS and am aware that everyone is working flat out and things are tough.

My booster appt was at 10am. There are roughly 100 people in the queue in front of me, all with an appt time of 10am. There are 2 people jabbing in a v small vax clinic.

Why organise things like this? I get there will be an element of no shows etc but to give well over 100 people the same appt time just seems so stupid.

Lots f v elderly people in this queue, it's about 4 degrees where I am, no sun, and it's very cold. I just don't get it?!

I guess my AIBU is: should this not be being better organised by now?

OP posts:
lljkk · 30/01/2022 11:13

even more surprising that there were so many very elderly, some of them were eligible for boosters last October ! More like August if you live in Israel.

Where are you? When family members went for their most recent covid jabs (mostly walk ins, Nov-December) they had very short Qs.

lljkk · 30/01/2022 11:13

ps: friend is vaccinator in England & not NHS -- the whole programme relied on lots of volunteers & non-NHS staff, stewards, etc.

Original poster
butimariot · 30/01/2022 11:16

In the South West. Several of the people on the queue were here for 4th jabs / 2nd boosters. I waited just over an hour.

OP posts:
hypeman · 30/01/2022 12:16

Seems strange. Went for my booster last week (3rd dose not CEV). Went straight in and sat down. Was people trickling in and out but no Que as such - not more than a couple of mins checking in and waiting for a free desk anyway.

Chatting to the nurse and she said it's generally pretty steady now as most people are already done. Said it was mostly younger people like me who caught covid in December coming in for their boosters (exactly my situation).

She said she wasn't expecting it to be busy today until 4th doses.

AlexaShutUp · 30/01/2022 12:19

It has been supremely efficient for all 3 of my jabs, and for both of dd's. I think for DH too.

Sounds like just a local issue tbh. Maybe lots of the vaccinators unexpectedly had to isolate due to covid or something?

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 30/01/2022 12:19

When I went for my booster, I turned up an hour early and was in/out in less than five minutes with three people ahead of me in the queue and only one person jabbing.

I suspect it's very much down to individual location.

Original poster
butimariot · 30/01/2022 13:28

I've had all 3 jabs in different locations (due to moving / work etc) and have had to wait at least 40 mins at each time. I don't understand why somewhere would book at least 100 people to come at the same time, and then not anticipate most of them to turn up, with only 2 vaccinators.

OP posts:
DoNotGetADog · 30/01/2022 13:51

Do they actually have appointments or are they walk-ins who all just decided to come first thing?

Original poster
butimariot · 30/01/2022 14:36

All appointments.

OP posts:
CraftyGin · 30/01/2022 14:43

Wish you could come to my centre, OP. We are lucky to have a handful of people in the whole centre at any one time.

CorrBlimeyGG · 30/01/2022 14:52

Several of the people on the queue were here for 4th jabs / 2nd boosters

When did they start doing second boosters?

mrsnec · 30/01/2022 14:58

Hi OP, I'm in the SW mine was a but chaotic too. (Devon)

I didn't have an appointment I went to a walk in
I chose one centre because I was told it was quiet compared to the other two. Anyway the first time it was closed because of an outbreak and the next time it was chaos. All appointments, and people having different doses all at the same time queues out of the door too. And I had to have a verification from my GP which hadn't actually made it through.

I was told there was a computer glitch and a change of venue at the last minute.

It was a pain in the bum but I'm pleased I did it.(nearly didn't bother)

TeenPlusCat · 30/01/2022 15:01

Are second boosters a thing?
My Dad was one of the first to have his vaccine (Dec 2020), he hasn't been 'called' for a second booster.

bigbluebus · 30/01/2022 15:05

It was like this at our local vaccine clinic at the start of the booster programme but that's because they only had one queue for appointments and walk-ins which was totally pointless. DH was less than impressed having booked early so he could get off to work. Equally those elderly patients being made to stand outside for over an hour was totally unacceptable too. It did sort itself out within a few weeks though and there are very few going through the doors now.

CraftyGin · 30/01/2022 15:09

@TeenPlusCat

Are second boosters a thing? My Dad was one of the first to have his vaccine (Dec 2020), he hasn't been 'called' for a second booster.
I don't think officially there is a second booster.

A lot of vulnerable people had three initial vaccines, so their fourth jab is the booster.

MaybeHeIsMyCat · 30/01/2022 15:10

I went to a walk in Friday morning about 9.30 for my 4th vaccine. Nobody else there, and by the time I had sat outside for 15 mins and was leaving, there was still nobody else there!

Cardio101 · 30/01/2022 15:10

@TeenPlusCat second boosters are for those who are immunosuppressed.

Maybe they had some vaccinators ill/pull out of their shift?
When I was vaccinating, the numbers were really dwindling so they cut it down to two or three vaccinators cause there just wasn’t any uptake!

CorrBlimeyGG · 30/01/2022 15:12

A lot of vulnerable people had three initial vaccines, so their fourth jab is the booster.

Indeed, and these were offered months ago.

The idea that lots of very elderly people suddenly decided to get a booster on a Sunday morning months after it was offered is ... somewhat unbelievable.

MaybeHeIsMyCat · 30/01/2022 15:14

@CorrBlimeyGG

A lot of vulnerable people had three initial vaccines, so their fourth jab is the booster.

Indeed, and these were offered months ago.

The idea that lots of very elderly people suddenly decided to get a booster on a Sunday morning months after it was offered is ... somewhat unbelievable.

The 4th vaccine people are just about eligible now so haven't been eligible for longer than a couple of weeks if that I've just had mine as had my friend, and we got our other vaccines exactly on time. I had my third on the 24th October so Friday was the first date I could have it
CraftyGin · 30/01/2022 15:17

I've seen very few elderly people in the last couple of months (even over 50s).

Most of our clients are in the 12-15 age group.

CorrBlimeyGG · 30/01/2022 15:20

The 4th vaccine people are just about eligible now so haven't been eligible for longer than a couple of weeks if that

The OP refers to lots of very elderly people. They were offered third vaccines in early September.

LondonMummer · 30/01/2022 15:21

Honestly I'm amazed. I'm a volunteer in London and was told not to bother coming in last week as they only had 20 people booked for the whole day and the day before had only had two walk ins. In the past it has been hugely busy. There was a surge in boosters when omicron kicked off but it seems almost everyone who has wanted their vaccine has had it and the last couple of weeks have tailed off completely.

TulipsGarden · 30/01/2022 15:24

Sounds very unusual. I live near a vaccination centre and it's been dead since Christmas, never more than a couple of people in there when I've walked past.

Blanketpolicy · 30/01/2022 15:27

When I booked mine there were choices of slots 6 mins apart. There was a large outdoor queue when I got there maybe 60 people, but I had the booster within 20-25 mins.

Original poster
butimariot · 30/01/2022 15:29

@CorrBlimeyGG I said several, not "lots". Maybe 3 or 4. Why would I make up how long I waited for something? I genuinely do have an actual life, so this isn't something I would do.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread