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?

Really sorry OP, that’s rubbish. Is it worth maybe ringing around places near you that do the jab, to ask if you’d be eligible to get it there, just to save you another wasted trip? I’m sure you’ll find somewhere where you’ll be eligible.

Ah that's different to the Nhs letters that are being sent out then.

I'm sorry that happened op - sounds upsetting. It is a fault with the system though, not you. I also managed to book ( a few months ago) when not yet eligible. The info on the booking system was ambiguous imho. I phoned to check and the person on the phone agreed that it wasn't my fault but the system's.

I've had mine now (HCP) and understand that otherwise one has to wait till invited but it is not your fault that this wasn't clear.

That’s rough OP, sorry to hear this happened to you. It really wouldn’t have been a big deal to let you have the booster. There was probably more admin involved to deny it to you.
I got called up early for the first covid jab, amongst the over 70’s and vulnerables (I’m considerably younger) There was no one to query it with until I arrived at the clinic, when I asked the nurses whether I should have the jab, their attitude was ‘well you’re here now and you’d get it eventually anyway, so let’s get it out of the way’.

It’s ridiculous how you’ve been treated.

I got a text saying I was eligible to book - I was in group 6 for the first round, I think because I had gestational diabetes (no actual diabetes at my last annual screening). Then when I tried to book, it asked various questions, including one about whether I was high risk (eg because immuno-compromised), and I answered no. It said I wasn't eligible, so I wondered whether I should have said yes, but it's clear as mud really. I think I'm just going to wait until my age-group get told to book.

That isn’t the website we booked through. Ours is very specific to our borough - called xx Hubs. It’s clearly being organised differently in different parts of the country. The texts inviting us to book also come from the same xx Hubs.

That was my thoughts exactly. It won't put me off, I'll keep trying (when I'm officially eligible) Thank you so much for commenting on my thread. I hope it's been helpful to have this discussion.

Yes, the eligibility isn't the same as for flu. You posted this elsewhere and someone explained about the eligibility I think.They do it in tranches so the most vulnerable are done first and possibly you aren't as vulnerable as others even though you have several health conditions. It won't be long before you get called but they could have been nicer to you about it though.

It is confusing but certain groups are being called first and I'm sure you'll get a text in the next few weeks inviting you to book. It's 65 plus at the moment and im only 50 but have an autoimmune condition which makes me at risk of serious illness if I did catch it so they always call me in with the over 65s. I can tell you the rollout is happening a lot faster this time round so It probably won't be too much longer before you get an invite. My text invite to book came only 2 weeks after they started the autumn boosters. I went last night and was one of the youngest but they have me down as at risk so I didn't need to answer any questions really apart from my name and address. Forget about this incident and put it behind you, your turn will be here soon enough anyway if the speed they are getting through age groups is any indication.

I've booked mine at the GP for October and the only criterion I fit is being over 50. So sorry this happened to you I'm autistic

OP - I am shocked out how rudely you were treated for trying to be responsible. It seems to be very much dependent on location - in my county over 50s can walk in for covid and flu boosters, in the neighbouring county where I work they are still only booking over 65s for boosters, I would suggest you look into walk ins in nearby areas - good luck

and would have melted down too.

Awwww I don't know anything about the booster but your post about getting factual information right totally resonated with me.

I'm so sorry they treated you like that. Not on. Tomorrow is a new day so plan something nice and comforting ♥

It seems to be really confusing. I was chatting to my pharmacist about it on Monday when he gave me my flu jab. I’m 58, but need an asthma inhaler. That entitles me to first dibs with the flu jab. However it doesn’t for the Covid booster, as he said that’s not extremely vulnerable.

He is in his 40s and can have the Covid, but has to wait for his flu.

so confusing. Sorry that happened to you today OP

It definitely varies by area, and possibly by GP surgery. My mum is late 80s but has only been invited once (when they had the big push to get older people boosted last Christmas). By the time she received that I had booked her in and she’d had it done. If I hadn’t booked hers online she simply wouldn’t have had them done.

I'm in Scotland and recently diagnosed with one of the illness on the COVID risk list. I also asthma so get the flu jab every year. I answered some questions on NHS inform and it told me to book online. I won't be impressed if they turn me away. Sorry that happened to you OP.

I'm 40, I got it for being a carer of DS.

Honestly I don't even think you made a mistake - I would expect you to be eligible based on the conditions you described.

The Green Book (COVID) chapter 14a defines the people eligible for a jab in the autumn campaign. They are listed in Table 3 on pages 19 and 20.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-the-green-book-chapter-14a

Poorly controlled asthma, neurological conditions (which certainly in our area has included those with autism) and a high BMI all qualify you for a jab.

ooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · Today 20:49
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 🤷‍♀️
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. 💁🏻‍♀️“

which is all fine by me!

Our youngest is asthmatic. After saying it was a risk factor at the.beginning of the pandemic, the (trustworthy, FFS) govt. changed its collective mind and said it suddenly wasn’t so sure.

idiots though they are, they do have to draw the line somewhere though (thank providence for scientists) and we’ll all be jabbed in time. We all need to accept and take our turn, in terms of priority,

This^ - You are entitled to be treated with courtesy. They were rude and insensitive. I'm sorry you had a wasted journey and were treated so dismissively.

Where do you live (I’m not asking for your house number!) 😬

Just wonder if it might be like in the previous rounds and supply to different regions is variable, or whether the eligible age groups are not taking it up in sufficient numbers. Currently in my area the over 50s have been notified that they will be called but only the over 65s (plus the CEVs etc) are able to book.

@itsgettingweird Thank you for the heads up. I had a look at the website before and the initial list didn’t include carers so I assumed that I wasn’t entitled to a booster, which surprised me.

I’ve now booked my booster. 😀

I’m in London, and the texts came from our local borough hub, and the booking website is also only for the local borough. I’m in a traditionally low take-up area for the vaccine, so maybe that’s why there’s lots of availability.

I had a text and an email inviting me to book. Unable to do so online as I answered no to all questions. So I rang to ask why I'd been invited twice! I'm 58. They were unable to book me either and I'll now not get called when I'm entitled so I was advised to "just keep trying every couple of days"!!! 🥴🥴

Sympathies though OP. You shouldn’t have been treated like that, and considering that they are so short of volunteer staff it’s totally counterproductive to spend ages questioning someone who is clearly going to be eligible at some point, just easier to do it there and then rather than waste an appointment! Seems that common sense is a bit in short supply.