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?

It's a lottery indeed.

Big, hairy balls as well. It's like algorithms. Sometimes helpful, sometimes dangerous.

Shame you have to have so much shit wrong with you (very similar conditions) then have to check the magical diabetes box.

Double whammy! Don't wish the diabetes diagnosis on myself and sorry you have it on top of everything else.

Sending Unmumsnetty hugs

No.

@GrimmTales strange! I definitely get all he questions.

I read this when I tried to book for my dd. Surely the proof is the NHS letter they sent telling her she's eligible for another vaccine in the first place?! Otherwise I wouldn't be taking her! Honestly, the cynical part of me thinks it's deliberately being made more complicated so less people stop bothering with the vaccines that are probably costing the government millions....

I looked at the website today to book. Unless you are immunosurpressed, a front line health worker or over 65 or living with an immunosurpressed person, it says you’re not eligible yet (and says you need to provide evidence at appointment too). Being “disabled” isn’t a category 🤷‍♀️

My DH got the same text as me and also booked in the same way. He is 58. No questions were asked of us. The texts inviting us to book came from our local Covid hub booking system.

This all sounds like a complete lottery in term of who gets what and when...

I was invited to book for the Covid jab two weeks ago and had the Modena booster on Tuesday and I was also invited to book a flu jab.

I have no specific health issues that would make me more at risk and I am the same age as you.

I think it might also depend on where you live. I am in London and the jabs have always been really easy to get. I also got all the previous jabs really early.

@OrangePumpkinLobelia try again & book it! There doesn't seem to be a shortage of it & the more arms we get it into the better!!

What is this website? I’ve not had to book through a website. I can only assume it’s organised differently in different parts of the country.

There's no need at all for them to be rude to you. You made a genuine mistake based on confusing instructions. I hope you get your text soon so you can book and get your jab, and hope it doesn't put you off.

@Quveas - unfortunately "moderate" asthmatics have been treated differently for covid and flu, based on green book criteria. Asthma UK have been campaigning on this for a while. They are pretty much the only group who are counted as vulnerable for flu but not for covid (it changed a few times at the start of the pandemic). But very much like your point about respect - spot on.

Sorry, my last post was to FivePotatoesHigh.

I get it though, completely .hugely frustrating though, for so many people.

The general NHS website to book your covid vaccine through

Sorry to hear about your experience op, it must have been very upsetting. I hope you feel better now

My DH (57) is having his Covid jab tomorrow. He has mild asthma, like you, so that’s strange. He’s always qualified for the flu jab.

I’m 53 and have been invited for the flu jab (I always paid in the past), but I haven’t been offered the Covid jab despite having Long Covid and having been referred to the Long Covid clinic in my city. I was invited early for the first jab as a carer, as my DD1 (now 13) has SEN and I get Carer’s Allowance. But not for the booster this time.

I really don’t understand it at all, it’s very inconsistent.

You shouldn’t have been treated the way you were, though, OP, I’m sorry you went through that.

Well that's not how it's playing out IRL.

Im 53, CEV, my friend has moderate asthma, my other friend is 60 & diabetic and another is 45 with 'conditions' but not CEV .. all getting them next Saturday. 💁🏻‍♀️

I am 54 & got a text inviting me to go for a booster.
I had early ones before as I was vulnerable with being obese.
Now I am ECV as I have cancer. My confirmation text told me I have to take proof of this when I go for my jab, despite the fact the text invited me to go.

Lizzie if you are a carer you can book via the nhs covid booster website. You don't need a text to do it.

What's not clear is what the high risk conditions are because it doesn't actually state them.

For 1st and booster my ds classes as a high risk child in current guidelines. He was group 6 in first round.

But he's now 18 and obviously has the same condition! But can I find out if he's meant to have a seasonal booster? Nope!!!!

But we haven’t had to do that. The text inviting us to book doesn’t go to a general NHS website. It directs us to a specific local council NHS website where there’s no information to fill in or boxes to tick -only to choose a centre and a slot, all within the borough. Very easy.

I’ve also had the text message, telling me to book? But the website says I am not eligible!

GrimmTales · Today 20:43
MrsSkylerWhite · Today 20:41
I looked at the website today to book. Unless you are immunosurpressed, a front line health worker or over 65 or living with an immunosurpressed person, it says you’re not eligible yet (and says you need to provide evidence at appointment too). Being “disabled” isn’t a category 🤷‍♀️
What is this website? I’ve not had to book through a website. I can only assume it’s organised differently in different parts of the country.

it’s the Book and manage a Covid jab, Gov, UK website. Booked our jabs today. First thing (not sponsored) that comes up on a google search.
really not difficult if you’re online, booked the last 3 that way sO know it works!

I got a text invite and then it took me to the same form as you which didn't seem to make me eligible. I've been deliberating all week if I'm supposed to book or not. Its really confusing, I'm sorry you had such an unpleasant experience.

This is all most weird.
I am 59 and was invited along for my booster two weeks ago. No health issues at all. Loads of people I know have also been along. No questions asked. Followed the link on the text and booked straight in.

I feared that It’s not as straight forward this time so even though we’ve had texts inviting us to book we’ve hesitated for fear of the same response OP. shocking treatment. Also concerned as saw it’s going up rapidly again and we’re definitely more exposed this time with travel, shopping and no masks for everyone. I overheard someone at a train station on the phone today saying that the exposure is really bad as people aren’t testing and several now have been unable to work due to long covid.

It seems to be a lottery. My DH has had multiple texts and an email telling him to book. He isn't CEV, doesn't meet any of the other priority criteria and is in his mid 50s. I'm a few months younger and haven't been called yet. His sister and her husband are early 50s with no priority conditions but have had boosters a week or two ago but we've got another relative who us a frontline healthcare worker with some health problems of his own who is yet to get his. All seems rather chaotic to me.

This is what we are being told here in NI.
You definitely qualify.
The way you were treated was scandalous.
I received a text from my GP surgery to book an appointment. I am early sixties with a underlying condition.