Vaccinations and nepotism

[Mintypylonsfryingsurplus]

Obviously most of us want the vaccination and an end to this nightmare.
But I am aware of several people that have jumped the queue.
1st family Son works in GP surgery in non patient admin role 44 slight asthma never shielded worked throughout. Got vaccine due to leftovers. Great in a way as vaccines should never be wasted. Then got his Mum and stepdad a vaccine (late 60's no health conditions) a vaccine also. Yes they are older but live 32 miles from the surgery so not their surgery and drove a considerable distance. Was told to be there by 4pm in the am of that day.
I thought surely local people who use that surgery should be prioritised especially health care or other frontline workers?
Ok I thought just a one off.
Then one of my DH friend aged 39 again works in surgery occasionally covers reception through a glass booth/ appointment only got the vaccine too. Her partner again about 12 miles but a different county away aged 41 works from home got vaccinated a week later.
They were foolish enough to put on fb (now taken down) as some people were understandably a bit pissed off with this. Comments such as who you know, driving long way not in spirit of lockdown to the outraged as many elderly/ frail/ frontline still patiently in queue.
I am not judging as those that want it will get it eventually, and no vaccine should be wasted, I am just wondering if this is quite common to others too?
It does seem divisive?

It was always going to happen.

i can see their point, if they know someone who will be there to take the vaccine that will be a hell of a lot easier than ringing round trying to get people to come in

Isnt this just lazy organisation though? I am wondering how many of the 3.2 million vaccinations are really to the priority groups? It does seem underhanded the vaccinations have been rolled out for over a month now. This is not a quick lets vaccinate whoever can turn up? People get notified fir flu jab surely same thing?

Every place should have a list of standby people. Who can get there fairly quickly. Once family and friends have been given any “left overs” they are going to need to give to others anyway. Doing family and friends first sounds dodgy.

I think they covered this in yesterday’s press conference. They are happy for vaccines that could end up in the bin going to someone else the GP may know.

Better than wasting it, although I would probably not broadcast it on FB if I got one

I'd take a spare vaccine if it was offered so I cant really get het up at others doing the same 🤷‍♀️

Travelling for a vaccine/ covid test is fine. Sure remember, lots of people received letters offering vaccines many miles away. Using up vaccines that would otherwise get binned is also ok. We are all going to get this eventually, if a few get it a little bit ahead of 'their turn', who really cares. Also anyone working in a GP surgery is likely eligible, even if you think they are safe behind a screen. All staff in my trust are getting it, whatever their role. Even those WFH. I don't know if that is right or wrong, but ultimately, it is letting us get through huge numbers of people each day in our vaccination centre.

I have had quite a few people complaining that I had the vaccine despite already having covid (due to frontline job), but I was advised to get it. Some people just like to complain. Personally, I would love to be in a less stressful job that does not expose me to covid.

It’s better than wasting it. We are struggling here because when we have some left over we can’t win: if we give it to family, we are told it’s nepotism, if we don’t, it’s because ‘we know it’s not safe!’ And if we throw it away the press slate is.

I would be much more upset to read of surgeries wasting doses, I've read surgeries have been advised by some trusts to waste rather than deviate from the list which is nuts. I'd hope that going forward they'll get better at managing doses and getting them all out to people in priority groups.
Friend of friend runs a GP surgery and apparently they are calling keyworkers on their list to be on standby for end of day spare doses.

But once all the staff mates have had it they are going to need a system to give out any spares at the end of the day. Surely these days it’s easy for Gp to sent mass text message and if you know you are free say 5-6 everyday and can get to the surgery in 15min you are on the list. Waiting until friends and family are all done before you even try I would not be impressed.

How is it spare though if people are driving many miles to a different locality with 6 hours notice?
When my turn comes in my area I would like to think if there are spares we all get moved up the queue a bit quicker, not someones friends aunt cousin who lives 25 miles away gets a 6 hour heads up??
It makes a mockery of the roll out altogether. To know of 2 seperate housholds I think this is far more common that people are letting on.
Maybe the grabby culture we live in.

Surgeries don’t know what is being delivered until a few hours before - sometimes not even that. If it’s a weekend the admin is a nightmare. The systems aren’t up and running properly yet. It il improve over time.

I'm ok with this for leftover vaccine. Queues at the end of the day would end up with the more mobile and sharp elbowed getting them anyway. The vaccination program is two fold - get the vulnerable done, but also lower case rates across the UK.

My parents friends had there's (early 70's) because she had a 4.40pm drs appointment (he had driven her and was in the car park) and they had left over vaccine from no shows, just got lucky. My own go has been giving vaccine to accompanying partners under 80 and those bringing parents if over 50/medical condition because it makes sense time wise, they can use one vaccine slot

We have a list of people who live or work nearby eg ancillary health care staff to use the left overs on rather than waste them . The problem is that after 5-600 vaccines in the day the number of no shows ( usually due to isolating) or sixth doses from the vial is unpredictable and it is better to use them than not. One is ringing around but in the end some of these get used for family members or neighbours who can be easily accessed rather than wasting them. It is a tiny fraction of the overall number and everyone involved , that I am aware of, tries to be ethical about this.

This makes me pretty angry. Not a single person has been vaccinated in my town yet. Worst death rate in the country, last place to get vaccines.

Its spare because they know how many people they have booked, how many doses are required and how many will be left over after the vials have been made up. If they get a no show, then that's an additional spare that needs using.

Ok so nepotism is fine then if its you and yours. Thought so. Yet another lack of strategy planning and thought from the top.

Do you also agree with supermarkets throwing good food in bins and pouring bleach on it instead of giving it to "grabby" charities.

Don't be silly.

Better the time sensitive spare vaccines are given to those who want it than put in the bin.

The risk of sending out mass texts is that too many turn up and you get crowds of people or no one rocks up.and its wasted..
Sounds like it's only a couple of doses available at the end of the day, the numbers being vaccinated are good and the % of over 80s vaccinated is quite high so they clearly are getting most of it out to priority groups.

Compared to the other covid measures this government has presided over it seems to be going incredibly smoothly.

@Mintypylonsfryingsurplus

How is it spare though if people are driving many miles to a different locality with 6 hours notice? When my turn comes in my area I would like to think if there are spares we all get moved up the queue a bit quicker, not someones friends aunt cousin who lives 25 miles away gets a 6 hour heads up?? It makes a mockery of the roll out altogether. To know of 2 seperate housholds I think this is far more common that people are letting on. Maybe the grabby culture we live in.

They won't know what they have left until the end though, eg people not showing up (happens more than you think). My guess is, they were told they can come if they like and they MAY get one if there's any left over. Otherwise, they would just tell them to come earlier in the day obviously, to make sure they got. You can't really have elderly people on stand by and expect them to take the chance of coming in then sending them off again with no vaccine.

I really wouldn't get too excited about it when you really don't know the full story.

If you were called by a friend/family member to use up a vaccine, would you refuse?

I meant mass text to set up a list you can work down when you need it. Which every provider will need or just waste them

I think this is a logistical nightmare and therefore this will happen.

It probably 'shouldn't' but the vaccines can't go in the bin.

Ultimately we need to view this, as with everything with a global pandemic, on a societal level not individuals.

The aim is primarily to reach herd immunity WHILST reducing the strain on the NHS as quickly as possible.

That first aim is achieved no matter who's arm the vaccine is injected in.