GP giving vaccine to his mate

[LoafEater]

So an acquaintance of mine has told a mutual friend that his friend, who is a GP in out local area, called him up at the end of a vaccine session and invited him down to the surgery to get a 'leftover' vaccine. He went and had it, and is telling people how delighted he is about it.

This acquaintance does not really work (independently wealthy/lazy), is in his mid-50s and has no health issues. I am livid. My brother lives in a care home has not had the vaccine yet, and I know lots of other people, myself included, who are working front line jobs or have health conditions that won't be getting it for a long time yet. I see from the press today that this seems to be happening all over. I suspect, knowing this man, that this was pre-planned rather than a last minute thing.

Don't know why I'm posting this really as there is nothing that can be done about it now, but I found out about this last week and I am still so cross!

It's surely happening everywhere. They should really have a list of those next in line to offer leftover vaccine to, surely some would be able to get there quickly if phoned.

'Right, yes, all GPs have got time to go through their entire patient list at the end of the day, when they know there's vaccine leftover'

No, not gps busy doing enconsults, the admin staff. I presume they have prepared covid priority groups lists? Omg this should be simple stuff, but I fear practice staff aren't the most organised.

If any admin are reading here is a tip, you will get no shows so instead of ringing your bffs with left over doses you have a standby list ready. You know, the priority groups??

So call the surgery and ask them to add your brother to the stand by list? Lots of surgeries seem to be compiling them. Far, far better than wasting even one dose.

once you and your brother have both doses of the vaccine, what are you going to find to bitch about then?

@Helmetbymidnight

Is there really no middle way between GP's mates and the bin?

I'm surprised this is the system and disappointed that they're not going about it better.

thats my point! I understand that Gps under huge pressure, but how long would it take to compile a list of people to call at the end of a session rather than giving their mate a call?

@Randomrebel

Around here they haven’t finished over 80’s yet. Yet I know people who have also had the vaccine with no underlying health issues as they are classed very loosely as frontline NHS workers. Yet neither works directly for the NHS one is a private Funeral Director (also all the staff at the undertakers have also been vaccinated).

That's how the priority list is working. Here the hubs for those people are different for the general practice patients. I have just had mine done ten minutes ago. I am a volunteer for a care agency and we are not doing face to face visits at the moment. However as I and others in this group had been accounted for in terms of vaccine I felt I should take the opportunity.

'yet another thread on envy for the vaccine. listen to yourself.'

It isnt 'envy' it is common sense the priority groups need it first, not gps pals.

Its all computerised you know, little effort is required to ring up next patients eligible. Theres no thumbing through phone books required.

Honestly if it’s a choice between giving it to a friend you know can get there quickly, and binning it- I’d prefer this. I’m clinically vulnerable and waiting my turn, but I am jealous of your friend!

I've heard of this happening and tbh as long as vaccines are going out and not being wasted it moves us closer to the end of lockdown.

I a a little confused why people are suggesting teacher phone trees or calling people from group 6. Theres plenty of us in group 4 up that are waiting and can get to the surgery/vaccine hub quickly (we have a code on our records, I wonder if the Drs can just call up the list with the code in a search?) in exactly the same manner those being suggested should be contacted. I understand why people want to see teachers vaccinated, I want everyone vaccinated! But I think it gets forgotten sometimes that whilst people have had nasty cases and long covid, those of us in group 4 are being told we are likely to die, that we have slim chances. I'd bite my right arm off right now to have the jab in my left this morning to make sure I have a fighting chance if I get it. Off to check my texts again....

So an acquaintance of mine has told a mutual friend that his friend

So very much Chinese whispers then🤔

As others have said, better to vaccinate as many people as possible than to bin it surely, there would just be threads on here complaining about GPs wasting vaccines if that was the case.
In an ideal world there would be a list of vulnerable etc that would get it but at the end of the session they're on a time limit, odds are a lot of people that are on the CEV, elderly etc aren't going to get to the surgery quickly or without assistance etc, better to give it to someone that is able to get there on time to save it going to waste.

So what? A person is more deserving of the vaccine than the bin is.

@GetOffYourHighHorse exactly that. I try to stay positive when I see these stories but as someone CEV I'm desperate to get the call and I could cry sometimes with frustration. Ive heard of people who take their group 4 up relatives to get theirs and ask if they can have one and get them! I'm so frustrated, I just want to feel safer again.

Who cares. The more people who are vaccinated the better.

Logistics and practicalities would make this difficult I imagine, but something like a drop in, first come first served waiting room for vaccines leftover at the end of the day would be cool. Yes, youd have to find space for them to wait all afternoon, and some people wouldn't have the time to sit and wait, but for those that do, there's a bunch of ready people waiting for the leftover vaccines without wasting time scrambling around calling people last minute.

It's tricky, because even if people asked to be added to a reserve list, time still has to be spent calling/no answers/can't get there straight away etc etc.

@Scrunchies

I echo what PP said. It’s a strange system the government are making us use. I’m a GP but currently on mat leave. I can’t get my vaccine apparently as there isn’t enough to allocate me one (returning soon) however they are binning the spares daily. None of the other staff have had their 2nd dose. They are literally throwing it away rather than inoculate themselves.

The government has threatened to remove their license if they give staff 2nd doses. It’s madness, as then there would be even less people to vaccinate!

This does Make me think why are they reluctant to hand out the second dose?

@Lou98 I know thousands of shielders, trust me, theres a fuck tonne of us who can get to surgery/hubs in time. We're not all bed bound or half dead. I normally work hard all week and party harder at the weekend, getting to the Drs isn't going to cause me any issues.

I don't see the need to get irate about this.

Vaccine wastage must be avoided.

Running a standby list takes resources and time that GPs (and other healthcare providers) really do not have right now. We are on our knees out here.

It's likely that ad hoc vaccination followed by recording so that the person can be called in for their second shot is the most efficient way of managing this. Whether someone is 'deserving' or not is irrelevant in this context.

The more people that get the vaccine the better for all of us. I really con't get worked up.

I don't want vaccines to be binned, but I would prefer use for someone who is in one of the first four groups, or a key worker.

Around here they haven’t finished over 80’s yet. Yet I know people who have also had the vaccine with no underlying health issues as they are classed very loosely as frontline NHS workers. Yet neither works directly for the NHS one is a private Funeral Director (also all the staff at the undertakers have also been vaccinated).

What does 'classed very loosely as frontline NHS worker' mean to you? A funeral director will be dealing with dead covid patients. I can't believe this has to be pointed out to you.

'I try to stay positive when I see these stories but as someone CEV I'm desperate to get the call and I could cry sometimes with frustration. Ive heard of people who take their group 4 up relatives to get theirs and ask if they can have one and get them! I'm so frustrated, I just want to feel safer again.'

Exactly and more people that complain to gps when they hear of it happening the better. They've had months to prepare. They should have a standby list of eligible patients, it isn’t rocket science. I could not imagine ringing my family as there's been no shows, have they no common sense at all?!

I don't want to stereotype but a lot of very elderly people aren't that mobile. Many don't like things to be done 'on the fly' but prefer them to be organised and planned. Ringing them up and telling them to get to their GPs as quickly as possible would be a source of immense stress for them, especially as many would need help and assistance. Some would be absolutely fine and up for it, some wouldn't and it would worry them. Similarly, I imagine a lot of younger, clinically vulnerable people who have been shielding would like to have time to understand the arrangements in place for their protection before they come to receive the vaccine.

My father is coming up to 70 and, even at that relatively young age, he prefers to know what's going to happen well in advance so he can organise himself. It would really stress him out to be called and asked to get there within 15 minutes, even if it was made clear it was "voluntary" and not his official appointment. He'd feel he'd failed if he couldn't manage it.

They should be using the leftover doses to give staff their second doses and, if there's still any left, sticking a needle in any adult they can find.

Even though they’re an ex boyfriend theres still a chance you don’t know their full medical history or what conditions may have arisen since you stopped dating. Do you tell people the ins and outs of your medical record, including all previous partners?

A friend of a friend told a friend - Chinese whispers

I am not saying it is not true but there is now way of knowing all the facts even if there is some truth to it

first come first served waiting room for vaccines leftover at the end of the day would be cool.

Yes that sounds like a great idea, encourage lots of vulnerable people to congregate in a room for hours, when they might not even get a vaccine if there aren't enough left.