To think vaccinations should be 24/7

[notevenat20]

I have become quite agitated by the speed of our vaccination program compared to the speed of transmission of the new variant. I read the plan is to vaccinate 8am to 8pm. But given the emergency that sounds to me like a firefighter putting out flames 8am-8pm. It’s not enough is it?

Well I can see the appeal but surely the practicalities are where it all falls down.
I would be ok with a middle of the night appointment but it would have to be close by, within a 10 minute walk. I'm not going to walk in freezing conditions in the dark for miles. My drs is only a 15 minute walk but to get there means going through a very dodgy area. I'm not keen.
Unless of course someone is willing to drive me there and back.
Plus the obvious that currently theres not enough vaccines to do that.

Younger people may be more flexible, may even enjoy the tale of going at 2am but over 70’s just won’t.

I respect all the different views here but I do have one comment. It’s important not to infantilise people over 70. My parents are over 70 and they would drive just about anywhere at 3:30am to get the vaccine earlier. Of course some really elderly people can’t drive at night or wouldn’t be safe walking but that is a choice for them, not us. We could just give the option and they can choose.

@sashagabadon

I hope all those saying 24 hours a day, 7 days a week have signed up to be Marshall’s at their local vaccination centre because they’ll need loads more people to help if they do go 24 hours ( which might happen later on possibly)

This. If you’re that concerned in this speeding up you should sign up to help in some way.

But the option would cost a fortune, spread currently available vaccines thinly reducing efficiency and, if not taken up, possibly waste vaccines.

That isn't how any mass take up if anything works. The logistics don't support it.

Sounds like these people don't want the vaccine enough - it could save your life, but getting up at 2am? Lord no, that's too much!

I would be ok with a middle of the night appointment but it would have to be close by, within a 10 minute walk. I'm not going to walk in freezing conditions in the dark for miles. My drs is only a 15 minute walk but to get there means going through a very dodgy area. I'm not keen.Unless of course someone is willing to drive me there and back.

Yes. If I had really elderly parents who couldn’t walk/drive at night I would offer to drive them myself to get vaccinated at 3:30am, as I am sure everyone else here would too. I wouldn’t even mind spending the night giving lifts to anyone else who needed it. It’s better than shelf stacking at Tesco all night which is what I used to do.

I would quite happily as most of my family and extended family would have the vaccine at any time.
But I can understand the logistics of doing it 24/7 esp with the elderly.

I wouldn't fancy going in the middle of the night either and I'm not elderly. I'm very far down the list though.

Once there is enough vaccine and people to administer it the sensible solution is not to do it all night it's to have either more places doing it or more spots at the current places imo.

But I'm confident that the Army logistics experts don't need any advice from internet randoms and have enough experience of supply chains in war zones to be abe to make better decisions than me. Maybe let them know your solution though, they might aleady know as there was a v long thread about this the other day.

[quote Blessex]@sashagabadon yes just have!! Here is the link for those that want to help.

nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/i-want-to-volunteer/volunteer-roles/steward-volunteer[/quote]
Fab! Me too

@PleasantVille

Once there is enough vaccine and people to administer it the sensible solution is not to do it all night it's to have either more places doing it or more spots at the current places imo.

But I'm confident that the Army logistics experts don't need any advice from internet randoms and have enough experience of supply chains in war zones to be abe to make better decisions than me. Maybe let them know your solution though, they might aleady know as there was a v long thread about this the other day.

@notevenat20

I would be ok with a middle of the night appointment but it would have to be close by, within a 10 minute walk. I'm not going to walk in freezing conditions in the dark for miles. My drs is only a 15 minute walk but to get there means going through a very dodgy area. I'm not keen.Unless of course someone is willing to drive me there and back.

Yes. If I had really elderly parents who couldn’t walk/drive at night I would offer to drive them myself to get vaccinated at 3:30am, as I am sure everyone else here would too. I wouldn’t even mind spending the night giving lifts to anyone else who needed it. It’s better than shelf stacking at Tesco all night which is what I used to do.

But if they could have an appointment at 11am 4 days later, would you still want to do this with your elderly parents? Which appointment would they prefer?

But I'm confident that the Army logistics experts don't need any advice from internet randoms and have enough experience of supply chains in war zones to be abe to make better decisions than me. Maybe let them know your solution though, they might aleady know as there was a v long thread about this the other day.

I see this sort of comment on MN. Do you really avoid all conversation about things you are not directly in control of?

Bit late to this thread. Curious - agree so much with your post at 9.24.

It will come down to supply - when there is more, maybe the timings will be extended.

And those mentioning Israel upthread - they have done marvellously, but are worrying about supplies now, themselves www.timesofisrael.com/israels-vaccination-drive-said-likely-to-be-briefly-halted-next-week/

I gave up ever getting a flu vaccine from my GP/Boots/Lloyds (I am 55). Just before Xmas an online GP/St John's Ambulance set up a drive thru vaccine site in a car park. There was a big take up, despite the very short notice.

We registered online for our chosen slot and did all the paperwork beforehand. We didn't even have to leave the car (it wasn't great being vaccinated in a downpour, but the process lasted 15 minutes from arriving to leaving).

I appreciate this might not be an option for many elderly/vulnerable but it felt so much safer for us and the staff than sitting in a church hall waiting for ages.

I am in a town of 95,000. We currently have a single little GP surgery (on an hourly bus route) on the outskirts doing jabs. I imagine they are managing substantially fewer than 200/day.

I can only assume that the current bottleneck is with the MRHA approving vaccine batches. That, in itself is in excusable. If the "ready to be used" vaccines are sat in fridges ready and able to be used, the people responsible need to be answerable to everyone in lockdown.

[quote Blessex]@sashagabadon yes just have!! Here is the link for those that want to help.

nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/i-want-to-volunteer/volunteer-roles/steward-volunteer[/quote]
@Blessex , I may be being daft but I can't see an option to sign up on that link? Can you point me in the right direction please? DS and I are keen to help

Depends whether the patient is willing to go for a jab at 02:00 or such like.

I absolutely would. When I see the terrible pressure NHS staff are under, one night's disturbed sleep seems a very small price to pay...

@frustrationcentral hey. Do you see this? And then in purple?

They definitely go beyond 8pm as my husbands appointment was 8:45pm a few weeks ago.

I suppose you could say to the over 70’s here is your 2am appointment. We don’t care it is the coldest iciest night of the year, take it or leave it and if you don’t turn up then back to the bottom of the list for you!
Or we could just book them appointment at reasonable times when they will be able to actually come safely.

@Babdoc

At the moment, OP, it’s irrelevant. There is not enough vaccine available to fill all daytime slots, never mind overnight ones. If there was a sudden enormous jump in vaccine supply, I’m sure it would be considered.

Yes agree. Work in hub all set up. There till 9pm last night. The delivery of vaccine is sketchy and varied. We will struggle to fill it two whole days next week with the amount of vaccine due to us in delivery. But agree when supply increases I'd work as many hours as poss to get this rolled out

@Madcats

I gave up ever getting a flu vaccine from my GP/Boots/Lloyds (I am 55). Just before Xmas an online GP/St John's Ambulance set up a drive thru vaccine site in a car park. There was a big take up, despite the very short notice.

We registered online for our chosen slot and did all the paperwork beforehand. We didn't even have to leave the car (it wasn't great being vaccinated in a downpour, but the process lasted 15 minutes from arriving to leaving).

I appreciate this might not be an option for many elderly/vulnerable but it felt so much safer for us and the staff than sitting in a church hall waiting for ages.

I am in a town of 95,000. We currently have a single little GP surgery (on an hourly bus route) on the outskirts doing jabs. I imagine they are managing substantially fewer than 200/day.

I can only assume that the current bottleneck is with the MRHA approving vaccine batches. That, in itself is in excusable. If the "ready to be used" vaccines are sat in fridges ready and able to be used, the people responsible need to be answerable to everyone in lockdown.

This is promising. I spoke to a St John's A interviewer early this week and they've got 30,000 volunteers going through the process of recruitment and training at the moment.

Do you really avoid all conversation about things you are not directly in control of?

I can't imagine having a conversation where I was suggesting that I know better than experts in a subject. Maybe that's me but I'd feel a bit daft starting a conversation like that and I'd expect my friends would point out that those in the know have a better hold on the situation than me.

But it's clear from this thread that lots of posters don't even understand your proposal as their answers are about people not being able to go at night which I do agree isn't what you're suggesting. The supermarkets are open 24 hours but no one thinks that the elderly should be forced to shop at 2am, I don't get that type of response either.

Could they have a service to bring people to their appts if they are during the night?

I know of a couple in their 70s who have said they wouldn’t get up at 4am to get their vaccine. They regularly used to get up at this time to fly to their holiday home