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Covid

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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:

Mary19 · 16/01/2021 17:12

I work in a GP Surgery in London. Initially we only had the Pfizer vaccine which had to be given in hubs due to logistics. Luckily our hub is only a couple of miles away but still inconvenient. We are now getting small amounts of the Astra Zeneca vaccine which comes in 8 or 10 dose vials. Once opened has to be used in 2 hours so we call in batches of patients, and keep a list of back up patients that can be called in at short notice if someone doesn’t turn up or can’t take the vaccine for some reason so every dose is used. I think more and more local places will start giving it but also every area seems to be rolling it out differently.

Eaumyword · 16/01/2021 17:20

I saw on Facebook a local (Midlands) minibus are offering free door to door rides to vaccination hubs. Masks on, driver is behind a perspex screen and the minibus only has half capacity.
Why not ask around/check facebook?

djddjj · 16/01/2021 17:22

@RancidOldHag

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

Probably the case for anyone driving them, though.

Haenow · 16/01/2021 20:01

@RancidOldHag

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

I disagree. Unless there are mobility issues with getting in and out of a taxi or cognitive issues, many of them are as safe as going with a family member.

RancidOldHag · 16/01/2021 20:09

I agree that family members (unless known to be very low exposure - perhaps also having isolated, or WFH with online shopping) also present a risk.

Being in the place where the vaccinations are given is an essential part of getting the jab. Having a risky journey to a hub at a distance from home is not, especially when more local venues are coming on stream

SilenceIsNoLongerSuspicious · 16/01/2021 20:16

OP Try her local councils volunteer helpers group - my London borough has one for just this sort of thing. Alternatively, how about a black cab? I read they’re volunteering to help, or if you can afford it just pay for a black cab, tell her to wear a mask and keep the plastic panel closed.

Original poster

Bathroom12345 · 16/01/2021 20:24

Thank you all. I don’t think a taxi is going to work. Her local firm is closed and what about coming back? She is nearly 90 with a frame. It will be too much for her especially at a large hub.

She wouldn’t know where to go.

OP posts:

LIZS · 16/01/2021 20:52

There are lots of volunteers at the big hubs, to guide patients through. New centres are opening each week though , so something more local may crop up. If you can give area maybe someone here will know of one.

Original poster

Bathroom12345 · 16/01/2021 21:04

She lives in Ealing. Nearest hub is Wembley

OP posts:

Original poster

Bathroom12345 · 16/01/2021 21:06

She will honestly need to be hand held through everything.

OP posts:

Egghead68 · 16/01/2021 21:11

A volunteer from your local Facebook covid support group or one of the NHS volunteers may be able to accompany her.

MRex · 16/01/2021 21:15

The two local Vaccination Centres are:
Ealing Town Hall, Uxbridge Road. Ealing
The Dominion Centre, 112 The Green. Southall

Can she perhaps get to either of those more easily? If you use this form then you should be able to get her local support: nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/services.

LemonTT · 16/01/2021 21:21

@Bathroom12345

Thank you all. I don’t think a taxi is going to work. Her local firm is closed and what about coming back? She is nearly 90 with a frame. It will be too much for her especially at a large hub.

She wouldn’t know where to go.

Use Gett, this is a black cab company. You can get bigger ones and ones with disabled access. You can pay online for her. They are working and can be pre booked.

AnnaSW1 · 16/01/2021 21:29

If she hangs on she'll get a more local appt in a few weeks

OverTheRainbowLiesOz · 16/01/2021 21:31

My elderly Dad is in the same position. We have booked online slot at the main hub which is in far away city. I'll drive down if necessary to transport him.

Could someone tell me if his local centre or GP might still call in the meantime and offer a slot or does the hub appointment take him off the GP / local list altogether?

LIZS · 16/01/2021 21:33

I think you only get one appointment so having booked he would need to call to rearrange. They seem to arrange the second date at the same time , so would be two visits to same place.

OverTheRainbowLiesOz · 16/01/2021 21:36

Oh well. Never mind - he didn't want to turn it down! He got both appointments at the same time.

I wonder whether it is worth checking with GP? I don't want to be a pain though.

LIZS · 16/01/2021 21:37

Most ccgs and pct have updated their online information.

tootyfruitypickle · 16/01/2021 21:38

Our surgery is desperate to do the vaccinations. They have repeatedly asked to but told only hubs. Definitely a constraining factor and will mean some people will be missed.

LemonTT · 16/01/2021 21:46

@tootyfruitypickle

Our surgery is desperate to do the vaccinations. They have repeatedly asked to but told only hubs. Definitely a constraining factor and will mean some people will be missed.

Why didn’t your practice work with their network partners and put themselves forward as a hub. No one was stopping them.

LemonTT · 16/01/2021 21:48

@OverTheRainbowLiesOz

My elderly Dad is in the same position. We have booked online slot at the main hub which is in far away city. I'll drive down if necessary to transport him.

Could someone tell me if his local centre or GP might still call in the meantime and offer a slot or does the hub appointment take him off the GP / local list altogether?

They could but not if he is vaccinated before then.

MaggieFS · 16/01/2021 21:59

Please don't worry OP, I had to look into this for DM albeit in a different part of the country. From what I can work out, GP surgery networks, called PCNs were asked to set up local sites. If they aren't able to e.g. no staff/venue then it falls back to the CCG to do so. They are all getting themselves set up at varying speeds, but it should happen local to the surgery.

At the same time, the big regional hubs are up and running but she shouldn't have to make that journey, they just suit people who are able to travel as they can do more quicker, hence the invitation letter.

For DM, I found very little on her GP's website, but plenty on the surgery Facebook page and her town's local community page.

I hope this isn't inaccurate for more areas, it's just what I've been able to ascertain, apologies if this doesn't prove to be correct for your DM.

LynetteScavo · 16/01/2021 22:03

@lljkk

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

Possibly not, but I took a lateral flow test then isolated before taking my DM. I know people on my local Covid FB group would fall over themselves to take someone for their vaccination. A colleague took her DM on a wheelchair taxi and it seemed that taking people to be vaccinated was all he had done on the last few days.

I have to say the man on the door of the vaccination center was totally amazing and really looked after anyone who was uncertain or confused.

gooseygooseywanderingfree · 16/01/2021 22:04

@Bathroom12345 its worth speaking to the GP to see if transport can be provided. I work at centre that is also a vaccine hub, and there are always transport ambulances outside. I assumed it was because they had taken people and would them be taking them home?

Original poster

Bathroom12345 · 16/01/2021 22:05

Ealing Town Hall is a definite possibility. She can get the bus there but why didn’t it come up when I went onto the NHS booking site?

Will look into it further though.

Thank you.

OP posts:

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