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Original poster

1st cock up in vaccination rollout

218 replies

CKBJ · 10/01/2021 18:10

Being reported in the media that many over 80s received their letters yesterday, supposedly those living up to 40mins away from one of the 7 vaccine centres, but when they book appointments they are instructed to travel very far. No where does it state in the letter patients won’t be penalised if they don’t book one at one of the 7 centres and if they wait their gp practice will contact them for a local appointment. This is causing a lot of anxiety in people who are already likely to be shielding and potentially put them at risk by them trying to travel to one of the centres. Surely the letter template should have been reviewed and this issue picked up!

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 10/01/2021 19:05

@Doingthingsdifferently

Very easy to criticise isn't it. This is the largest logistical challenge of our generation - and every step there is the media and people like the OP waiting to crow about minor errors - could we not try and pull together and get this done?
Exactly

Some are working extremely hard. Others are quick to criticise.

BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze · 10/01/2021 19:06

not exactly a huge cock up. Some people are just waiting for every little thing that goes wrong!

Yep. Anything on this scale will have issues, especially at the beginning and when it’s having to be done so quickly. The people waiting for anything at all to go wrong and then loving it when it does are just arseholes. In the space of a few months vaccines have been developed and we’re now rolling them out. That’s pretty good going I’d say.

HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee · 10/01/2021 19:07

I got vaccinated via workplace and it was very efficient and well organised
It’s a huge logistical operation.

ancientgran · 10/01/2021 19:08

@rwalker

Honestly with staffing ,logistics, procedures ,supply chain and having 66 million people to organise . If anyone thinks they will get it 100% right they have no idea of the challenge involved.
The disappointing thing is they have had months to get ready for this but it feels like it is all a bit last minute.

Like someone earlier I have a relative in their late 80s who had an appointment for their vaccination but it had to be cancelled as the vaccine wasn't available.

I hope they get it sorted quickly.

ancientgran · 10/01/2021 19:10

[quote WoolyMamamoth]@ancientgran it's so they don't waste vaccines and possibly the number of over 80s in your area who have been vaccinated is much higher than 1/3.[/quote]
Why is it wasting vaccines to give it to over 80s? I think it is lower in my area as we have an aging population. Locally I only know one person who has had it, even the hospital staff only started getting it this week.

leopardspotsdotdotdot · 10/01/2021 19:11

@CKBJ

Well we don’t want any cock ups! This is far too important to get it wrong/delayed/poor communication as many people as possible need to be vaccinated as soon as possible.
Granted. But we’ve not had a pandemic in our life time, so all the politicians, Drs, nurses do not have a working protocol yet.

I’m so so exhausted from negative news. The fact we have a vaccine, and roll out, is giving me hope.

I feel very suicidal today, as I have so many plates spinning, but I can’t focus on any of them as I’m feeling so over whelmed. Instead I’m procrastinating on my own ‘duties/chores’ and focussing on things that are removed from my life, and don’t address any of my responsibilities.

Sorry, I’m not blaming you OP, just asking you think about negativity before you post. Hope you are ok too. Thank you.

ancientgran · 10/01/2021 19:14

@2021welcome

Exactly Roses - our old people have had their second vaccines now, and we would have driven all day and night to get them there for it. Getting them vaccinated was the top priority for the family
That's really nice but unfortunately not all elderly people have any family or family who can or will do this but your old people are very lucky to have you.

My neighbour is a widow in her 70s, her children were school age when she was widowed. She worked and brought them up, they live a ten minute walk away but she didn't see either of them or her GC at Christmas. The last time they visited it ended up with the Police being called and her SIL being arrested.

ancientgran · 10/01/2021 19:14

Sorry just to correct my post, only one of her children lives ten minutes away, I'm not sure where the other one lives.

MarshaBradyo · 10/01/2021 19:16

We’re ahead of most of the world. People are working extremely long hours to get this out. Scientists have made breakthroughs we didn’t expect.

Hold on to the good for a bit maybe. Not this.

Nat6999 · 10/01/2021 19:20

We've got a vaccine hub on our estate but people who live here are expected to travel 3 miles away instead. It doesn't make sense for people who at 80+, lots have decided to not bother because of this & the fact there isn't a direct bus service.

PuzzledObserver · 10/01/2021 19:20

I’ve just been investigating the situation in South Wales, because my mum (85) is there and this morning phoned me to check, because she had had a text inviting her to book an appointment.... but got suspicious when it asked for bank details. Good job too.

Anyway, apparently Wales have decided to prioritise NHS and care staff and only just started over 80’s this week. Among the parents of my high school cohort, only a couple of their parents had heard anything, most had not.

hayleysmiles · 10/01/2021 19:21

I mean, I know lockdown is boring for everyone but do you honestly have nothing better to do than refresh bbc news, lying in wait for anything negative about the vaccine?

I'd suggest looking for free courses online, fill your time, expand your mind

Dongdingdong · 10/01/2021 19:22

Very easy to criticise isn't it. This is the largest logistical challenge of our generation - and every step there is the media and people like the OP waiting to crow about minor errors - could we not try and pull together and get this done?

Agree. What a pathetic thread!

enjoyingscience · 10/01/2021 19:23

I’ve spent the last two days helping park cars and manage getting people in and out of our local GP practice to have the vaccine. It’s worked brilliantly well, they are doing 11 hour days with two patients every three minutes. This is happening up and down the country. Yes, some things aren’t perfect, yes, some people will be offered locations or times that aren’t perfect for them, but don’t overlook that you won’t hear much about the work quietly going well elsewhere.

MarshaBradyo · 10/01/2021 19:24

@enjoyingscience

I’ve spent the last two days helping park cars and manage getting people in and out of our local GP practice to have the vaccine. It’s worked brilliantly well, they are doing 11 hour days with two patients every three minutes. This is happening up and down the country. Yes, some things aren’t perfect, yes, some people will be offered locations or times that aren’t perfect for them, but don’t overlook that you won’t hear much about the work quietly going well elsewhere.
Thank you Flowers

Ignore the op we are all really grateful for people working so hard

Backbee · 10/01/2021 19:24

Hope you're volunteering in some capacity towards the roll out OP, seen as though you are quick to criticise. The government has made many, many, many fucks up in all of this, but the vaccination roll out on this scale is a huge challenge, and we are actually doing well.

cptartapp · 10/01/2021 19:25

Not all GP surgeries are or will be doing them. We're not. People will have to be prepared to travel to mass sites or other practices. This should have been made very clear from the start.
Our phones are clogged with elderly asking when it's their turn and and family members shouting abuse at receptionists.

ancientgran · 10/01/2021 19:27

@Nat6999

We've got a vaccine hub on our estate but people who live here are expected to travel 3 miles away instead. It doesn't make sense for people who at 80+, lots have decided to not bother because of this & the fact there isn't a direct bus service.
Is it due to boundaries for health authority or trust? The care home where I work have been told where they will get their vaccinations (I won't as I work from home.) They could get a bus to the nearest hub or walk it in 10 to 15 minutes but they have to go to somewhere else where they will need to get a bus to a railway station, catch a train, get a bus to hospital. If you haven't got a car it will take an hour each way if the connections work out but could easily be 2.
MichelleofzeResistance · 10/01/2021 19:28

It is working really well in some areas, my dps went yesterday for theirs and said it was like a military operation, they were amazed at the speed and efficiency, and the care being taken not to let a lot of people over 70 end up picking up infection in the process.

MichelleScarn · 10/01/2021 19:28

I feel its back to the initial 'clap for carers/nhs' shenanigans, initial everyone so grateful for the work and effort we put in, then quickly the 'don't see why you're so special' started, now it's complaining for ages because nothing being done, now there's the complaining as its not being done exactly how people want it to suit them!

ancientgran · 10/01/2021 19:30

@enjoyingscience

I’ve spent the last two days helping park cars and manage getting people in and out of our local GP practice to have the vaccine. It’s worked brilliantly well, they are doing 11 hour days with two patients every three minutes. This is happening up and down the country. Yes, some things aren’t perfect, yes, some people will be offered locations or times that aren’t perfect for them, but don’t overlook that you won’t hear much about the work quietly going well elsewhere.
My GP surgery was like this for the flu vaccinations. They have literally knocked down part of the walls in consulting rooms to make doors to the car park so people go in main entrance and out to the car park. It was brilliantly organised. I think local organisation has alot going for it.
LizzieSiddal · 10/01/2021 19:30

I told my mum her appointment was to be viewed like a Martini - any time, any place, anywhere - and I 'll get her there!

Love this!!

And yes this Op is just scaremongering and quite pathetic.

peanacat · 10/01/2021 19:33

@enjoyingscience

I’ve spent the last two days helping park cars and manage getting people in and out of our local GP practice to have the vaccine. It’s worked brilliantly well, they are doing 11 hour days with two patients every three minutes. This is happening up and down the country. Yes, some things aren’t perfect, yes, some people will be offered locations or times that aren’t perfect for them, but don’t overlook that you won’t hear much about the work quietly going well elsewhere.
Thank you 😊

I had my vaccine today in the midlands (HCP) and I have to say where I went had lots of helpful people in high vis vests guiding us to parking and where to go. It was brilliantly organised and very efficient. It felt very much like a mass vaccination (the doors to the clinics were left open so you could see the patient before getting vaccinated while you waited), but that’s what we need. Couldn’t have faulted today in any way.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 10/01/2021 19:33

0h my word! I thought you got the vaccination in your arm! Shock

Ridcully82 · 10/01/2021 19:36

@Drinkarsefeck

I don't think this is a cock up, if they are able to travel and get the vaccine more quickly then that's great, if they can't they will be done locally later. I know I'd do my damndest to make sure my parents got there if it were me, it will speed things up for all the following groups the quicker we can get through them.
I'm group four, I can drive,but if I could I can think of lots of people who'd give me a lift:and I think more people than you think would as well. And as previous posters have said,feels like some people are literally itching to be able to carp about something