Will there be a plan for “spare vaccines”?

[Lemons1571]

I understand that vaccine hubs have been giving end-of-day spares to family and friends, if they can get there at short notice. But surely they’ll run out of these “add on” people very quickly? I know our hub had 100 no shows one day last week. Surely there should be something better in place than grabbing a few random passerby's? After all, the government message is “people will die”, so surely there should be some formal procedures to use up the spare doses.

I agree. I’d heard some spares were being given to police officers in our area, don’t know if that’s true.

My parents were called up by their GP community hub to fill in for no shows. They're over 80, mobile and near. However, that depends on knowledge of patients which will be difficult in the major hubs.

Some places are starting online registers of people who can come at short notice. Which seems like a great idea.

They call up health care professionals that haven’t already had it in our area.

Police yes it's true in my area. A few I know have been called whilst on duty to pop to local centre to get theirs. I think control room just get told to send so many officers in certain time frame and they will get it. But that's West Yorkshire.

Yes, there is a plan. There are call up plans to use up spare vaccines, though these will differ from area to area.

Most, as pp said are going to the police, and their out of hours systems are set up so there is immediate access to records to be able to identify and contact staff. Issue with many employers is they don’t have that ability once HR or admin goes home at 5pm.

My gp is grabbing people passing by or who happen to be in the surgery for another reason. They plan to have a standby list set up from next month, initially only over 50's can be on it but eventually anyone can be if they can get to the surgery in 5-10 mins (we can). They initially used the leftover for reception and admin in the surgery and have vaccinated the local pcso too the nurse told me. They plan to have 5 leftover doses when doing the appointments in case of issues administering but aren't loosing much at all.

Surely there should be something better in place than grabbing a few random passerby's? After all, the government message is “people will die”, so surely there should be some formal procedures to use up the spare doses

Why would you think randoms are being offered the vaccine, why would you think there AREN'T formal procedures in place. MN (and other) social media platforms are not the best place for reliable information. On the many other threads like yours, many, many, healthcare staff have confirmed that their vaccination centres are running well, and have efficient processes in place for un-used vaccines due to DNA's.

I am volunteering as a vaccine steward today so will report back what they are doing where I live

It might be complicated to administer but could they use the spares to start on the second jab for those who've had their first.

100 no shows sounds a lot, is there an option to say you aren't going to turn up when you get an appointment, that's got to be better than staff standing around not knowing who is going to go each day.

@Lemons1571

I understand that vaccine hubs have been giving end-of-day spares to family and friends, if they can get there at short notice. But surely they’ll run out of these “add on” people very quickly? I know our hub had 100 no shows one day last week. Surely there should be something better in place than grabbing a few random passerby's? After all, the government message is “people will die”, so surely there should be some formal procedures to use up the spare doses.

I'm not sure that it's true that they've been calling family and friends. My trust has a plan in place and is working incredibly hard to make sure that the leftovers are being offered to people on the lists.

We have a list to call. Some staff have brought in relatives at short notice but only those who met criteria - like a parent over 80. We now have a list of healthcare staff and carers too.

@Ch3rish
It might be complicated to administer but could they use the spares to start on the second jab for those who've had their first.

We’re absolutely banned from doing this. The individual administering the vaccine can be reported to their professional body for knowingly doing this.

Our surgery is calling people from the next category down to come in when there are spares.

Ours has a plan to do the keyworkers and everyone's been invited to complete a form if they wish to be added to the list.

They will call people for spares in order of vulnerability.

100 no shows, that would the primary school teachers in my small town.

*that would cover

My GP surgery called me yesterday for a spare. Sadly I missed the call I'm under 70 but shielding so I guess they're calling people from the next priority group.

It varies, but calling first responders (police, fire service) is typical, as it's normal for them to be able to get somewhere rapidly. And especially in London they covering duties for the ambulance service so can be very much in the front line of response even though they don't have NHS priority

Gosh there’s so many different approaches.

@BigWoollyJumpers just by this thread alone, it seems that vaccine hubs have many different approaches in place, and these probably vary a lot in efficiency. Doesn’t seem to be a global process. And there are lots of people referring to their local vaccine place, offering left over vaccine to randoms on the street.

My husband (military) has been told to be ready for this sort of call at the end of the day. He is being prioritised in terms of the military due to his role. They’ve passed on a list of them to the big hubs and the hospital. At the moment if her or someone in his household tests positive he is medically downgraded (this is specific for his role). There is a process to re upgrade them but it takes a few months and one of his friends is still downgraded due to concerns on his x-ray with no clear timeline yet. It has been a big concern of ours due to my own job in healthcare- it was ok when I was on maternity leave but I’ve been back a month now and know I could bring it at home anytime.

They should do teachers and police once HCPs done IMO, then shop workers.

And there are lots of people referring to their local vaccine place, offering left over vaccine to randoms on the street

I disagree.

@Alfaix

They should do teachers and police once HCPs done IMO, then shop workers.

Not by age then?

Yes by age on booking but the extras at the end of the day by job.
Although there is an argument for vaccination of the working population to get the country up and running again while older people shield. That’s not how we’re doing it in this country though.

@DontGoIntoTheLongGrass

Police yes it's true in my area. A few I know have been called whilst on duty to pop to local centre to get theirs. I think control room just get told to send so many officers in certain time frame and they will get it. But that's West Yorkshire.

Tbh if it’s Leeds, the police station is over the road from Elland Road where the hub is, so it’s relatively easy from that point of view.

I understand that they’re only doing NHS staff until February due roadworks in the area.