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Original poster

Hubs for CV19 Vaccine

64 replies

Bathroom12345 · 16/01/2021 13:40

My DM has been offered a vaccine as she is over 80 but walks with a frame so cannot travel far. I live 100's of miles away. I have tried to book her a slot but there are places over 8 miles away and its not feasible for her to go.

I spoke to 119 and the agent said that she needed to check with her GP (who are not great and who have nothing on their website about offering/not offering the jabs).

I am thinking as they are trying to vaccination one of the most difficult age groups at that moment that really the GP's or local chemists should be offering to do them?

If I was offered one miles away I would jump in my car but for the elderly especially in London and the big cities this is not feasible.

Could anyone more knowledge tell me what the arrangements are for GP's to do them going forward.

If it means that I need to take some time off from work to go to London and drive her to a hub that is of course fine but if anyone has some inside knowledge that would be great. It would probably mean an overnight stay with her as well

119 did say to keep checking but unless suddenly her local pharmacy or GP appears on the list I think I might have to get her there myself.

OP posts:
Daisypod · 16/01/2021 13:42

Sorry I don't know the answers for your questions but a taxi firm local to me are offering free rides to get vaccinated for the over 80's and clinically vulnerable so might be worth looking in her area for similar?

PrivateHall · 16/01/2021 13:43

Could she go in a taxi? Is there really no one locally who could take her? Surely she must have someone who looks in on her Sad

LIZS · 16/01/2021 13:43

Some areas are recruting for or already have volunteer driver schemes. Age uk may have details if not easily found on google.

ihearttc · 16/01/2021 13:43

I’ve just had to drive my parents to theirs this morning. Despite having a GP surgery on their doorstep they had to go to one the other side of our city. I live 25 mikes away (appreciate it’s not as far as you) but it was 25 miles to their house, about 8 miles across the city then back to theirs and home to mine again so it’s been quite a morning travelling in the snow. My mum can hardly walk either so I totally understand how frustrating it is.

Frazzled2207 · 16/01/2021 13:44

I also think nhs responders have volunteers that can help with this kind of thing. But is there no friend locally that can help?

But have you actually spoken to her gp practice? They should have an idea.

MRex · 16/01/2021 13:45

Where in London is she? Hub slots may have been offered initially but something more local to her might be open, or might open soon. You can search for the sites here: www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/hospital-hubs-and-local-vaccination-services/. Her GP website should say where their patients will be seen?

Scarby9 · 16/01/2021 13:47

My aunt and uncle went in a wheelchair taxi (although they did have my cousin with them) but were told that if they couldn't get that they would be vaccinated at home a bit later when the Oxford vaccine came on stream.

hellsbells99 · 16/01/2021 13:48

Look on the Facebook page for her GPs - there may be more information here if they are planning to start local vaccinations soon

RancidOldHag · 16/01/2021 13:48

The big hubs are going to be fantastic when it comes to getting through younger recipients and I think they'll really come into their own in phase 2

They are however not the solution for those who must avoid public transport (such as the CEV and the very elderly) and who may not have a car.

Walking to a hub 10 miles away will easily take over 3 hours, which is the same as asking someone to drive from say Liverpool to Bristol

Looneytune253 · 16/01/2021 13:49

Check out what your local hub is like. I've seen reports of the Newcastle one where the elderly are standing outside for hours waiting to get in. Not feasible for most elderly especially this week in the snow

smeerf · 16/01/2021 13:49

My mum's GP in London is starting to offer jabs next week. Have you called hers yet?

ScrapThatThen · 16/01/2021 13:51

In our area local surgeries formed a hub and vaccination started at that hub yesterday. Local driving instructors have been volunteering to transport people. MIL was offered the big centre in Bristol but the next day was offered a local surgery. So she was glad she waited.

Mindymomo · 16/01/2021 13:51

In my area in Surrey people have been offered to go to Epsom racecourse which is about 40 minutes away from us and is out in the sticks and obviously not on a bus route or train. The letters say they can wait a few days for somewhere nearer if they want, but I expect they just want most to go to the big hubs.

LemonTT · 16/01/2021 13:51

London has one mass vaccination centre. More will open soon. It has about 100 GP hubs operating since early January. It will have about 100 pharmacies soon. They won’t necessary be within walking distance for an over 80 year old with a frame. I would look into organising some suitable transport to the GP hub or excel.

The pharmacies can be booked in the same was as the mass site. They will start appearing next week on the options.

ScrapThatThen · 16/01/2021 13:52

I agree that the big hubs will come into their own in the next phase.

Original poster
Bathroom12345 · 16/01/2021 14:39

Yes, once this tricky phase is over the mass sites will be fab. I am going to try her GP surgery on Monday and see what arrangements they have for their patients. I was hoping that they would have put something on the website.

There were a few pharmacies on the NHS site but again they were 12-15 miles away. NHS responders is a good idea! Thank you.

OP posts:
BigWoollyJumpers · 16/01/2021 15:35

Very few individual GP's will be rolling out the vaccine. They just do not have the facilities or staff to do it. So, in most cases, you are getting a group of GP's contracting with a central hub to get their vaccinations out. This will not necessarily be near to your own GP. Pharmacies will be rolling out as well, but at the moment, these are also larger ones, with space and facilities, and staff. Most immobile elderlies are getting lifts from local volunteers, relations, or catching a cab.

lljkk · 16/01/2021 15:58

Taxi service as long as she can afford to pay.
Hub info & gossip is all over my local Facebook pages.

IndecentFeminist · 16/01/2021 16:24

Taxi?

RancidOldHag · 16/01/2021 16:26

Taxi is not terribly suitable for the CEV and very elderly, as its sharing a car with person of unknown infectious status

lljkk · 16/01/2021 16:27

Do the relatives driving most CEV to vaxx hubs have known infection status?

ekidmxcl · 16/01/2021 16:32

There will likely be a covid charity group organised in her area with volunteers. Try Googling it or ask the GP

PrivateHall · 16/01/2021 16:32

@RancidOldHag

Taxi is not terribly suitable for the CEV and very elderly, as its sharing a car with person of unknown infectious status
Do you think you will know the infection status of everyone working in the hub?

Taxi driver and mum wear masks, mum sits in the back with the window down a bit.

If OP drives her mum, does OP know her infection status?

I don't know how you propose an elderly person who isn't terribly mobile gets this vaccine without any exposure to other people?

Musicaltheatremum · 16/01/2021 16:42

There are people going out to do home visits for the vaccines in most areas. Her GP surgery should have had some details about this. Saying that I don't know when our housebound elderly are being done but then we haven't had all the vaccine in yet so need to wait on that.

ExpulsoCorona · 16/01/2021 16:48

Where is she based? There are charities like this one who will take the elderly for free: www.wctbus.co.uk/2021/01/transport-for-covid-vaccinations/

Alternatively I would suggest a taxi.