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?

I sympathise - I was sent an email and a text by the NHS, telling me to book a booster, I assume due to my cancer diagnosis. I followed the link they sent but if I answer the questions honestly, I'm told I'm not eligible! I'm not CEV but I assume the cancer diagnosis and treatment mean I'm at increased risk, but the form didn't allow for this.

It seems to be very hit and miss. At the beginning of lockdown I had umpteen letters saying I was CV, and needed to stay in, and was offered food parcels, then when vaccines came in, I was texted and written to, to book the first and then the second. The third, the booster, nothing, I didn't want to jump any queues, so waited, but then every body and their dog was being boosted, so I went to a walk in. The spring booster I heard nothing but then had covid so couldn't have a booster for a month, and missed it. I have just had my Autumn booster as I received a text to tell me to book. However the place I booked at has been a walkin clinic all summer, and a very elderly man, in his 90s had walked in without an appointment, and they turned him away! They did make him an appointment over a week away, but I thought they would have jabbed him while they had him there, at his age!

I dont think anyone knows what they are doing. My teen dc had theirs at the weekend after I was questioned for 15 minutes and then the nurse had to get authorisation from some one else (I was made to feel like a time waster). They came under - 1 has underlying conditions, both are young carers, both live with a person who is ecv and both had letters to say they were eligible. Also both had vaccination earlier than their age group last year. In contrast I can't get a flu vaccination for my teens who are eligible as the government have suspended the school program for secondary schools this year but not told GPS who therefore haven't order enough vaccinations total incompansy.⁹
In contrast I was just asked my name and date of birth.
The whole thing has not been communicated well. Please don’t feel bad.

DH has always been invited for Covid jabs earlier than me, as they have him in some kind of vulnerable category. No idea why he qualifies and I don't, as his health conditions don't put him in any higher risk groups. Anyway. He got the invitation to book, took half a day off work and went for his booster. When questioned, he shrugged and said he'd been invited to book (I think he answered 'don't know' on the online booking form), and was given the jab. He felt the person at the desk had reservations, though. Sorry you didn't get yours, OP. I know DH would have been upset to be turned away. He was peeved enough to be blanked when he asked about the flu jab, when the posters on the premises were pushing people to get both at the same time. They acted as if he'd asked for something totally outlandish.

I don’t understand OP. My mum had hers last week, she is 61, not vulnerable, not a carer. She got a text from GP and went the same day as my gran to a walk in centre. You sound like you have had terrible luck. And they shouldn’t have been so mean to you. We have plenty of vaccine supply in this country now so they could have just given it to you. And being over 50 and disabled even more so…

I was sent a text telling me I was eligible to book, so I have. I wasn’t asked any questions at all. Only name, DOB, and what centre I wanted to book at. I’m 55.

So sorry to hear that. It's not right at all.
Reminds me of the first lockdown when my Mum was diagnosed with cancer, and had a major op, but was dismissed due to not having chemotherapy.

Too many people fall through the net.

Sending much love to you xx

likewise.....text and email telling me to book, but when I went online....ineligible.
if only the left hand would talk to the right!

I'm a carer for a disabled (and vulnerable) child (my daughter) and I booked myself in as soon as I heard I was eligible. Appointment was last week and I did get it but had to jump through some hoops and was made to feel rather uncomfortable/que-jumpy first.

I don’t understand the logic, I’m 35, have a developmental disability that doesn’t increase my risk but otherwise healthy, I’ve been called for a booster.

Ah, sorry to read that. They have to draw the line somewhere though and not all disabilities mean that you’re immunosurpressed, which is the qualifying criteria.
I’m 58 with no medical issues and our youngest, who lives with us, also healthy in terms of Covid risk, also qualified because we live with my husband/his dad, who is immunosurpressed so we do qualify.

That's the thing. I gives the option to say 'I'm not sure' And that's fine, surely?

I hope they get this all sorted so that everyone who needs a booster actually gets one.

I'm so grateful for your reply and for your personal input. It means so much.

Does go to show that things have gone a bit tits up, though. When we go back to the original premise of the Govt wanting us all to do the right thing and protect ourselves and each other. Save lives, Protect the NHS etc.

I was turned away for my first booster by the woman at the desk and nothing I said would help. I also walked out in tears as social interaction is hard for me and she made me feel so small and stupid. I complained online and the medical director invited me back the following day, thankfully it wasn't the same person on the desk but I almost had the same thing and had to mention the medical director by name before they let me in.

Last year was only the first year that my GP finally decided I should get a free flu jab too and only after I had paid for one like every other year. So I'm sitting waiting to hear from them before I even try to book anything as I don't want the same hassle I had last year.

I tried to get my covid booster because I'm pregnant and they said I'd have to wait until later in autumn . Later in autumn I won't be pregnant!

I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Social interaction is difficult for me too, as I'm Autistic.

I hesitated to book for today as I've a medical procedure on Sunday, and I felt it might be too many things for me to deal with in the space of a few days. But I steeled myself, took a deep breath and did it anyway. Completely knocked me off kilter, and wrecked my day.

Sending much solidarity and understanding x

I’m sorry this has happened to you.

I have extensive osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, peripheral neuropathy, a spinal cyst & a host of other congenital nerve malformations that have caused chronic pain/needed surgery since childhood but I have never been able to get a COVID vax based on any of these diagnoses.

I’m 49, but did get the email to get my booster this week. Logged into site & filled in my NHS number, answered the questions & booked my appointment. The only difference is… 4 months ago I was diagnosed as a diabetic.

I think it may be a question of waiting a while. I know it sucks big hairy balls, but at no point in the pandemic did any of the pain & osteoarthritis ever make me clinically vulnerable. And that’s ok; there were other people who had a medical need that put them ahead of the queue. Being a diabetic has changed the playing field somewhat (although I really don’t recommend it as a way to get an early booster lol).

Such is the madness of the system.

One of the first questions it asks is 'are you pregnant?' 🙄

You did absolutely nothing wrong and there is no excuse for the treatment that you received, however bad someone's day is going. I think that the whole system is a bit chaotic at the moment. I had my 4th jab today, I'm 48, not CEV but have Rheumatoid Arthritis and am on methotrexate. I got a letter from my GP telling me to book and had to take along proof of my prescription. The nurse read my notes and said that I should have been booked in for a 5th jab by now, but I honestly don't think that's right. I have CEV friends who haven't been called for a 5th or even 4th jab. Try to put it out of your head and speak to your pharmacy who sound lovely. I think that when you have several conditions it's always best to go with somewhere that understands you. Good luck and please don't dwell on the person that you saw - it was their problem, not yours.

I bet your mum was chuffed!
🤣🤣

Did somebody actually call you a time waster? I work in a vaccine centre and would be horrified if I heard a colleague talking to a patient like this. Yes, we do sometimes have to refuse to vaccinate if somebody isn’t eligible but always with politeness. I’m sorry this happened to you.

This is completely inaccurate. You are eligible if
you are “in a clinical risk group” (am reading out of the booklet I got with my booster). You don’t have to be immunosuppressed.

Can you complain? They should be treating you with respect

I’m baffled by people saying it asks you questions. What questions? The only thing I was asked was to enter my DOB -and that’s just to check they have the right person. Then it went straight through to “pick from these three centres”. As two of the centres had no current availability, I picked the only one that had. I was offered several days and times slits. That’s it. Then I got a “Successful booking” text. I was asked no questions re health, pregnancy, job role, etc.

Are you over 65?

My ds is disabled.

I had a text the other day from GP saying if eligible you can have it with flu jab.

Then text saying eligible from NHS and follow the link to book.

I was confused because as his carer I get ds texts as well as mine!

He hasn't been booked for flu yet as his surname is further down the alphabet than mine.

I reckon it must be for me then as I'm a carer. He's only 18 and has a neuromuscular disorder and afaik doesn't qualify for new booster as not in at risk category under the review?

I guess I'll find out tomorrow when I turn up for flu jab!

But they were really rude to you and there was no need to speak to you like that.