Turned away for Covid Booster

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

I'm a disabled woman of 51 years old. I qualify for the Flu jab every year because of some of my conditions.

For the past few weeks, I've hear via TV that 33 million people (or so, if I've got that right) will qualify for the new Covid booster.

Went online and was asked various questions. One being Am I a carer for a disabled person? (No, but I am a disabled person, so good to know they would qualify)

No, I'm not a healthcare worker - that was the next question. Yes, I'm at risk (as previously mentioned, I'm in the flu jab category) I am not CEV and it did not ask me if I was. I simply thought I was eligible as my GP mentioned I would be, and advised me to get the flu jab and Covid jabs separately.

All good. Booked in for 11.30 today. Turned up and was told I wasn't entitled, was a time waster and had my form aggressively crossed out in front of me and was asked to leave. I apologised profusely and said I was sorry I'd gotten it wrong. I certainly did not attempt to jump any queues or be disingenuous in any way.

Went away and sat in my car and cried. Had a deeper look into the criteria and it says 51 to 64 year old will be invited later in Autumn, but if you presented with high risk (even without evidence) you'd likely still be given the jab, if they had stock and essentially you'd be getting it soon anyway.

Again, I will reiterate that I did not attempt to jump any queue. I genuinely thought I was eligible.

AIBU to think that a carer of my disabled self wouldn't have been turned away?

Ah I feel for you. I queued for 2 hours with my dad last weekend as he is 63 and I thought he could get it and the flu jab. I felt like such an idiot!

I would complain. You don't say what the health conditions are, but the test for flu vaccines is the same one applied to Covid - so if you get the flu vaccine you are entitled to the Covid one too. And even if you weren't, you are entitled to respect.

That's rubbish, and surely completely unnecessary. I feel for you too. There is nothing worse than being made to feel foolish when you are 100% of genuine intent. Sending hugs of solidarity.

There was no need to be rude to you its not like you were robbing food off the blind

My 18 year old had his today as he is T1D so not CEV but increased risk.

I received a text message from our GP saying I should book him in so I would have assumed you were also eligible.

When I put his details in, there seemed to be some verification process on the website as it confirmed he was indeed eligible.

I got a text telling me to book. When l tried l couldn’t as l wasn’t old enough. I’m 58

Thank you. I'm physically disabled with osteoarthritis, Moderate Asthma, High blood pressure, Neuropathy, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and all sorts of other issues.

I also have Autism, so it sent me into a meltdown, as I pride myself on getting factual information correct, but clam up when it comes to arguing my case.

I got a NHS text inviting me for a covid booster cos 53 - no health issues. Tried to book on-line and not eligible - as you describe. Might try the walk-in.
Anyway - good luck! I hope you get yours soon

I've literally received a text from the NHS stating I'm eligible for another jab because a) I'm the primary cater for my mum b) I have lupus. I'm 46. I'm not going to be best pleased if I book the get turned away 😠

Like a pp said I would complain. Both me and dh are 50 and we both had ours on Tuesday at a walk in site. Only had to queue for 15 minutes. At no point did they ask any qualifying questions or turn anyone away. They were offering both flu and Covid booster jabs.

True. Thank you so much. Kindness is really appreciated today.

FFS how unkind of them. There's absolutely no need for that behaviour for an honest mistake.

It definitely doesn't seem right I've been invited by my GP and national site, 43, lots of health issues so CV but not ECV.
I know it's hard but try and put it out of your mind, you did nothing wrong and hopefully the person who was horrible to you was just having a bad day.

That’s not strictly true timing wise though. There are still certain groups being given the covid vaccine ahead of others, as op has discovered.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1102459/Greenbook-chapter-14a-4September22.pdf

This worries me as I've just booked mine. I had a text and an email saying I was eligible so I booked. I could only tick CEV even though I wasn't asked to shield. I'm in my 40's and obese. I had my previous injections before my age group and have been offered the flu jab for the last few years. I'm due to go next Friday. I hope they don't turn me away.

I'm so sorry that you were upset.
It's unforgiveable that you were treated so harshly for a genuine mistake, & it sounds as though it's not worded very well if no-one can understand it properly.
I hope you're ok.. my heart goes out to you. xx

I had an email and a text with my full name inviting me to book my COVID booster. I double checked it was legit and it was but I don't qualify anyway. I'm 32 and not CEV.

Sorry about your experience OP

Thank you. It really doesn't seem as clear cut as the original vaccine entitlement. Genuine mistake, like I said.

Should have known better as my local pharmacy know me very well and they asked me when I'd be booking in (very small, so limited slots - decided to try my luck elsewhere as I've had bad reactions to all of the jabs so far and wanted a friday slot so I didn't have to do the school run the next day in case I was poorly again)

I am older than you, but osteo, neuropathy and high BMI only. I qualified. No call from the GP - booked on line. There is no way you don't qualify.

I had mine today. Carer of elderly person. I was asked several questions. I booked at the same time as my Mum so pointed at her and said that's my elderly person.

Dh had an email from nhs this week but so far can not book online, via 119 or gp surgery.

Hope it all goes well for you. I reckon I was unlucky and there are maybe some teething troubles / misunderstanding among the staff. It's early days, I guess.

I had mine a few hours ago, CV and I'm 46. I had a text invite to book via my GP. I would complain as you are eligible and there was no need for anyone to be rude to you.

They don't really seem to know what they're doing. I was invited for an early jab last year, which I thought was to do with having had recentish pneumonia. After my 2 jabs I asked my GP who said no, was some kind of error. DH has asthma and qualifies for flu jab, but had to wait for his (healthy) age group cohort.

I have been invited for a booster but (rightly) denied when I said I don't have the list of conditions (COPD etc). I am paying for my flu jab.

It isn't unfortunately the case that flu jab eligibility = covid jab early booster.

Thats not true, I’m eligible for the flu vaccine every year but not the covid booster.

things like moderate asthma make you eligible for flu but has to be severe asthma for covid.