Have most over 80s been called for vaccine now?

[JumboShiitake]

Do you have a family member over 80 who has not had the call yet?

My DF still hasn't heard. All other family members over 80 have had already theirs, or have appointments this week.

He has underlying conditions that would put him at particular risk and he's refusing to shield so hoping it won't be much longer.

You can call your GP to get an appointment if you are in one of the groups that can have it.

@PurpleFlower1983

You can call your GP to get an appointment if you are in one of the groups that can have it.

GPs have specifically said not to do this, even if you are in the priority groups. I still don’t know any over-80s who have been offered it.

I think it depends a lot on where you live , and even people living within the same local authority area it depends on your individual GP practice . My mum is in a care home and has had two doses of Pfizer vaccine , first in December, second first week of January. I was speaking to a friend yesterday though, and she was really struggling to find out who was responsible for arranging the vaccine for her mum who is 90 and house bound . She only lives around 8 miles from my mum.

Dh aged 84 had his last Sunday. I am 76 and CEV but haven’t heard yet. We hear by phone so we sit by phone all the time .

@Lardycake4me hopefully the letter also said that she would be invited by her GP / something more local in the next couple of weeks. I've heard that's the situation.

Well there is a whole group of older people who seem to have been forgotten about in the hope that they will keep quiet and maybe go away. Those are the older people who dont drive, with limited mobility and no access to a car or funds for a taxi. Im not talking about th fully housebound or bedridden but those who cannot stand or queue in inclement weather. All this register for a slot is done in a very automated manner and there seems to be no facility for those of us with special needs to register that we need some more support.

@sneakysnoopysniper I saw an interesting piece on bbc news about this last night. A couple of communities that have schemes to help with this. But it relies on local resources and goodwill which clearly isn't enough. The only thing I would say is that when my mum had hers done she had to queue outside in the cold for 20 minutes, but there was a lady who arrived who is clearly infirm and the surgery took her inside to wait immediately. I do worry about how many people will be put off by queuing outside in the cold. My appointment is tomorrow and the forecast is for possible snow and 1 degree.

The issue of people getting to appointments is different to the one of them actually getting an invitation to get an appointment in the first place. The over-80s I know haven’t had any sort of invitation yet and are patiently stuck at home still waiting to hear.

@shinynewapple2021

I think it depends a lot on where you live , and even people living within the same local authority area it depends on your individual GP practice . My mum is in a care home and has had two doses of Pfizer vaccine , first in December, second first week of January. I was speaking to a friend yesterday though, and she was really struggling to find out who was responsible for arranging the vaccine for her mum who is 90 and house bound . She only lives around 8 miles from my mum.

I read an article by Sheila Fogerty yesterday. She had got fed up waiting to hear about the vaccine for her 90 year old mum and rang the GP. It turned out that they hadn't called her because she was housebound and was on the slower list for a home visit. She said she could take mum in and got an appointment straight away.

My husband's mother is in her 80s and hasn't had the call yet. His aunt and uncle, who are in their 70s, have been vaccinated.

My local practice (covering a middle-sized town & surrounding villages) has just put up a really comprehensive page on their website, saying exactly where they've got to (and what they will be doing) with each of the priority groups. They say they're finishing off vaccinating any non-vaccinated 80+ this weekend, but have also started inviting 75+ to vaccinations, and are prioritising within that group any who are CEV. If every practice or groups of practices did something like that and updated it every week it would be really reassuring.

Apparently the delay for the housebound is due to there being no protocol yet for transporting opened vials between households.

Both my parents and my elderly neighbour (all over 80) have been done.

@MaudesMum

My local practice (covering a middle-sized town & surrounding villages) has just put up a really comprehensive page on their website, saying exactly where they've got to (and what they will be doing) with each of the priority groups. They say they're finishing off vaccinating any non-vaccinated 80+ this weekend, but have also started inviting 75+ to vaccinations, and are prioritising within that group any who are CEV. If every practice or groups of practices did something like that and updated it every week it would be really reassuring.

Yea, all this secrecy just increases people's stress

I agree. If only all GP practices put something on their website or social media about their vaccine plans other than urging people not to bother them.

My surgery have put this up
Group 4 by mid feb going well then...

My 83 year old parents (one is CEV) were contacted this week and have appts this Sunday. They're in mid Kent.

@Phymp

I agree. If only all GP practices put something on their website or social media about their vaccine plans other than urging people not to bother them.

Aren’t about a third of GPs not involved at all, though? They have no vaccine plans.

I agree about vaccine updates - my GP updates on Facebook and did before they had any supply. All updates useful, and the fact they answer questions on there is great.

Coronavirus update says 71% of over 80s have been vaccinated.

All in my Dad's care home vaccinated last week but alas most have got
covid in the meantime. It does take a good 2/3 weeks for it to work

@Calmandmeasured1

Coronavirus update says 71% of over 80s have been vaccinated.

It’s 45% here. I wish our useless MP would get on the case.

@daisypond. I know not all surgeries are doing it, but they could at least say something like " all our patients will be vaccinated at xplace or yplace. They are working through the groups in order of age/ alphabet /nhs number or whatever. You will receive an invitation by phone / email or whatever.".

DM was called to a local centre and spotted a 100 year old friend some places ahead of her in the queue!

My 83 yo Mum had the letter to book on line. She was only offered one of the mass vaccination centres with the earliest appointment a month away. Still has 2 weeks to wait. This is because her useless GP surgery is not vaccinating. And unlike other practices in her area who have got together to arrange a local hub where most of her friends have gone weeks ago, they are just leaving their patients to navigate the national system.