How are people’s vaccinator job applications going?

[JacobReesMogadishu]

We had a previous thread which I’ve lost. So after originally filling out the form to register my interest in Nov with NHSP and being told I’d hear back within 7 days I only got a link to fill out a proper appt a few days ago.

Done the application now and been told to wait to hear if I’m successful or not. I can really only weekends as I have a substantive 9-5 job to do but hopefully they will want all hands on deck and not turn a registered HCP who knows how to wield a needle away!

I applied to be a vaccinator through SJA. I am a vet, so have relevant experience but not formally qualified. Had my online interview 16th Jan, completed the NHS and SJA online training during the few days after that, and received confirmation it had been completed by email.

Since then, not a word! I have emailed a general SJA vaccinator address to ask for an update, and also emailed the woman who interviewed me, but no reply. Feeling a bit irritated at the thought that they may not actually need vaccinators in my area, and have wasted my time doing all the training.

@TabletHelpPlease

I applied to be a vaccinator through SJA. I am a vet, so have relevant experience but not formally qualified. Had my online interview 16th Jan, completed the NHS and SJA online training during the few days after that, and received confirmation it had been completed by email.

Since then, not a word! I have emailed a general SJA vaccinator address to ask for an update, and also emailed the woman who interviewed me, but no reply. Feeling a bit irritated at the thought that they may not actually need vaccinators in my area, and have wasted my time doing all the training.

Oh no, this is sad to hear from you both! They've just opened another vaccination centre 15 mins from me, so was hopeful. I am grateful that it likely means lots of people have already volunteered to help though!

St John Ambulance - also had a bad experience, stuck in some kind of IT nightmare. Irritating as I only left them as a volunteer last summer. I do have friends who have sailed through (if you count ploughing through all the online training as 'sailing'). Ironically a friend who has done all the St John Ambulance stuff has now been approached by a local GP, who will train him all over again!

Not as a vaccinator but have gone through the initial training hoops to get involved via SJA. Finally been told I can attend f2f training but nothing local. I’m not driving for a hour. I live in Greater Manchester so hoping for something in that area. But made me think there might not be any opportunities to volunteer locally so this might all be a colossal waste of time.
They should be honest initially as to the locations where they want people

Can I ask anyone who is actually adminstering vaccines, is it true that there are sometimes spare doses left that are going to waste with people not attending etc and are you administering them to other people who were not on the list?

The reason I ask is that we live a few hundred yards away from a vacc centre. My OH Is a frontline covid HCP and I am in my early 60s with an underlying condition but we are not considered higher priority.

I am only asking in case there are doses that will genuinely be binned because they are no longer usable due to coming to ambient temperature - I am not talkimg about taking any one's dose!

My experience is they seem to have more people than needed! I have volunteered with St John Ambulance and I have vaccinated people but I wasn't really needed as there were plenty of NHS staff. I can get shifts fairly easily but not necessarily needed on them, if you see what I mean. The mass vaccination centre isn't as busy as expected. They are opening more sites locally though which might change things. I would imagine its a similar situation across the country.

Oh, I'm so glad this thread exists! I got a job offer for an admin role back in December at a local NHS trust. Start date was supposed to be January, 3 vaccination centres opened in January and I can't get through to anybody about a start date. I've given up a full-time job (stupidly) for this and I'm losing hope.

Applied through NHSP back end dec. completed all online training. DBS came through straight away and they followed up ref in a couple of weeks. I’m an ex nurse not practised for 15 years so applied through non healthcare route. Not heard anything!!!. Very frustrated. I tried the web chat. They just said my application was in process whatever that means! I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling they did all the training for nothing!

Perhaps the volunteers will be called later on in the roll out, when the NHS staff have had to return their other, usual positions? Really not sure.

Frustrating though!

Some kind of communication from SJA would be good, even if just to say “we are waiting for more vaccination centres to open, will be back in touch soon”.

@Gubanc

Oh, I'm so glad this thread exists! I got a job offer for an admin role back in December at a local NHS trust. Start date was supposed to be January, 3 vaccination centres opened in January and I can't get through to anybody about a start date. I've given up a full-time job (stupidly) for this and I'm losing hope.

God that's worrying. Have you had a formal offer by email?

@bollyTrolleyed

Can I ask anyone who is actually adminstering vaccines, is it true that there are sometimes spare doses left that are going to waste with people not attending etc and are you administering them to other people who were not on the list?

The reason I ask is that we live a few hundred yards away from a vacc centre. My OH Is a frontline covid HCP and I am in my early 60s with an underlying condition but we are not considered higher priority.

I am only asking in case there are doses that will genuinely be binned because they are no longer usable due to coming to ambient temperature - I am not talkimg about taking any one's dose!

I'll be honest,I can't remember seeing anyone on this thread that has actually vaccinated people,hence all our frustrations!

I can tell you my personal experience that my dad,who's just turned 75 was called for his last Sat. My mum,who's just 74,went with him and I suggested she ask if she could have hers done too (you don't ask,you don't get!). They checked the list and had 20 spare AZ vaccines so she got one of them. They do go to waste if not used and I've seen stories on other threads about people working at the vaccination centres and stewards/vaccinators being done if there are any spare. I've also heard that if they can't find people there,they run out in the street (will try and find the thread for you) so as not to waste them. So if you live nearby,I guess there's no harm wandering down and asking about what happens to spares and whether you could be put on a list to get one if you live so close by? As with my mum,if you don't ask...

@bollyTrolleyed Here's the thread I mentioned

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4144313-Will-there-be-a-plan-for-spare-vaccines

I think they are opening up centres/hubs everywhere so they will eventually use people near there. I noticed on my job advert that the dates have been moved also. Originally it said 3 months until March 2021. Now it’s saying until 31/5/21. I will be on a Nhs temp contract.
I was chatting to occy health this week when they took my blood. He said they had been mad busy so I presume HR is also just as busy (if not more). And you know what HR. are like!!
Keep the faith people. It’s going to get a lot busier when they are doing the first and 2nd vax together in the centres.
Good luck to everyone.

Ladylady (sorry, I can't link names on app) I did, after weeks of chasing. I also had a Covid jab. Still worried though that somehow I slipped through. Or it's iust scarily disorganised.

thank you@HildegardNightingale - and agree with you!

I applied through NHSP as I’m an NHS physio... did all the online training etc in Dec and still waiting to hear...

I've finished SJA online training (inc NHS stuff), next step is my face to face training day. The joining instructions are a bit pants though, doesn't say if there are any refreshments/places to get food/bring your own packed lunch (not super hygienic). Its an hour from home so I don't know the local area.

Still - I am rather looking forward to going to a real place having wfh since March.

Will be interesting to meet some people in real life not just sending emails to a void or hanging on a helpline...

@bollyTrolleyed
At my vaccination centre the volunteers/local police have been vaccinated with spare doses. However they do run a very tight ship in terms of numbers. We had a lot of no shows with the snow at the weekend and they simply didn't remove the vials from the fridge - the Oxford vaccine can keep over night as long as its not been taken from the fridge. There are only 20 doses in a vial so you really don't end up with loads of wasted vaccines. I believe pfizer is different though.

@MoiraNotRuby I got a phonecall before my SJA face to face to tell me to bring lunch as it isn't provided. In the end they got Deliveroo to provide free food from a local take away but I guess that isn't guaranteed.

After applying first week in December via 'fast track recruitment' for already working registered nurses, I have finally done my face to face yesterday. All my other training is up to date so as far as I'm concerned I'm ready to go. I've emailed trying with all my certificates so expecting a call from bank to book first shift. Nearest Vaccination hub is 5 minutes from me so will be really handy!

[quote SpringerMonster]@bollyTrolleyed
At my vaccination centre the volunteers/local police have been vaccinated with spare doses. However they do run a very tight ship in terms of numbers. We had a lot of no shows with the snow at the weekend and they simply didn't remove the vials from the fridge - the Oxford vaccine can keep over night as long as its not been taken from the fridge. There are only 20 doses in a vial so you really don't end up with loads of wasted vaccines. I believe pfizer is different though.

@MoiraNotRuby I got a phonecall before my SJA face to face to tell me to bring lunch as it isn't provided. In the end they got Deliveroo to provide free food from a local take away but I guess that isn't guaranteed.[/quote]
Thank you, that's really helpful to know. I will take food and drink in that case. Another question if you don't mind: I only have 'civilian' face masks i.e. washable cloth ones. Do they provide medical ones on the training day, should I buy and take my own medical one or is just cloth ok? I'm happy to volunteer my time but not mad keen on spending money doing this, when money is so tight.

Hi everyone, just checking in! I'm on my face to face training today, got a call yesterday afternoon!

@MoiraNotRuby a cloth mask is fine, there are also surgical masks and gloves provided for donning and doffing PPE training.

No food available at my place (Ossett) and nothing nearby, however we could make tea and coffee.

Good luck!

@MoiraNotRuby

I've finished SJA online training (inc NHS stuff), next step is my face to face training day. The joining instructions are a bit pants though, doesn't say if there are any refreshments/places to get food/bring your own packed lunch (not super hygienic). Its an hour from home so I don't know the local area.

Still - I am rather looking forward to going to a real place having wfh since March.

Will be interesting to meet some people in real life not just sending emails to a void or hanging on a helpline...

Let us know how you get on. I am hesitating in booking mine as nothing closer than an hour away. I could do that but nobody can tell me if there are likely to be shifts more locally. Do you know this? I am not doing a 100 mile round trip without knowing that I will be able to volunteer more locally than that.

I've applied through NHS Professionals, it's been 7 years since I practised so I am going through the non HCP route. I'm just doing all the online updates to infection control etc.

A bit disheartening to hear others have done the same and not been called for work.