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!

They should have a reserve list for these situations surely? Too open to abuse otherwise.

@Wheresthebeach

My GP sends me texts all the time, confirming opening times, reminding me that they are still open for 'normal' procedures, I get a text with a link to a survey after each nurse or GP appointment.

I think they could create a small list of vulnerable people, close to the surgery, who have expressed willingness to come in straightaway. The list would probably be kept quite small, 10-20 people. Just send a text saying come in within the next 15 minutes. After all, if they are calling mates and family they have the time to call a willing person on a list.

This was my suggestions as well.

You could even call two people from the list each morning and put them on standby. Disappointing if you don't get the vaccine after being on standby, but better to have a chance than not. I'd be happy to be on standby for a few days and then do a dash to the surgery on day five.

@bendmeoverbackwards

You're cross because one more vaccine has been administered and will reduce the infection rate for ALL??

Unbelievable OP

Strangely not just the OP who is cross

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9182781/amp/NHS-threatens-legal-action-against-vaccine-centre-staff-offering-jabs-friends-family.html

Is the NHS getting their panties in a bunch for no reason too?

@Wheresthebeach I think the point is that they do have these lists. But they still have doses left at the end of the day, because even people on those lists can't always make it in for whatever reason.

@RaveOnThisCrazyFeeling

* And not just because the staff might bring the virus out of prison and into the community. But because prisoners are human beings, every bit as human as teachers, and their lives are not worth less. They are not one step up from the bin. shock*

I disagree

A prisoner that has raped and murdered a child indeed anyone took it upon himself to extinguish a life.

I therefore don’t think his life is of any value

At the very least, this vaccines to healthy friends situation is piss-poor planning, but I suspect it is a combination of poor planning and corruption.

You have no idea if the "friend" has health issues that make them a priority, they may be well known at the surgery because they have health issues.

However there should be a standby list and they should be allowed to vaccinate staff if they have rung a couple of numbers and not got anyone in.

@Marmite17

They should have a reserve list for these situations surely? Too open to abuse otherwise.

I don’t see it as abuse

Abuse would be charging for it.

The bigger picture is that someone is getting the vaccine. End of.

Not saying it does happen but leaves system open to those willing to pay as well as nepotism. Sure many people next on list would make themselves available between set hours if it meant getting the vaccine sooner.

Surely each Surgery could send a nurse to the local Police Station with any left over vaccines??

I know people who were called up at the last minute as there were some spare vaccine but they have all been in the top four priority groups. I think that has been what they are meant to do. However, haven't they recently been told they can give it to people who aren't in the top four priority groups e.g. police? I suppose if a reserve list isn't drawn up yet is better than throwing the vaccine away.

[quote wildraisins]@Wheresthebeach I think the point is that they do have these lists. But they still have doses left at the end of the day, because even people on those lists can't always make it in for whatever reason.[/quote]
I've not seen that mentioned anywhere and if that's the case then the lists need to be longer.

At the end of the day, getting the vaccine shouldn't be about who you know. There has to be a fairer way.

[quote Sethy38]@RaveOnThisCrazyFeeling

* And not just because the staff might bring the virus out of prison and into the community. But because prisoners are human beings, every bit as human as teachers, and their lives are not worth less. They are not one step up from the bin. shock*

I disagree

A prisoner that has raped and murdered a child indeed anyone took it upon himself to extinguish a life.

I therefore don’t think his life is of any value[/quote]
But he is looked after by my ex husband, father of my children who did actually end up in hospital with covid after contracting it from prisoners

You're quite obviously not willing to accept that YABU.

You're clearly resentful that someone who you deem to be 'undeserving' has had it and you haven't, so yes it is jealousy.

Bin or Person, which would you choose? . I work within a practice where people SAY they want to be on a reserve list, can come in quickly for a cancellation. When you ring them the majority will say, 'that's too short notice '. Get anyone you can and inject them.

@SummerBlondey

Surely each Surgery could send a nurse to the local Police Station with any left over vaccines??

Why should the surgery pay a nurse to go to the local police station? The police can go to the surgery like everybody else who isn't housebound.

Even prisoners? Prisoners are extremely vulnerable to outbreaks of the virus, and should absolutely be among the priority groups, alongside people in carehomes who are vulnerable for similar reasons (i.e. close quarters, congregate settings).

And not just because the staff might bring the virus out of prison and into the community. But because prisoners are human beings, every bit as human as teachers, and their lives are not worth less. They are not one step up from the bin.

100% agree. Prison is not a death sentence. The punishment for committing a crime is deprivation of liberty, not catching and dying of Covid. Absolutely, prisoners should be on the priority list as their ability to protect themselves and socially distance within our overcrowded and unhygienic prisons is very limited.

If people think that, by committing a crime, someone should lose other basic rights such as the right to healthcare, that is a different argument.

It would be an excellent use for leftover doses if hospitals and GP surgeries located near prisons took them into the prisons and started vaccinating prisoners, starting with the most vulnerable first.

@TheQueef

Once the doses have been 'cooked' it has to be used. I wouldn't even be arsed if they went in prisoners arms f the alternative is the bin. Why they haven't set up teacher phone trees for the spare is beyond me.

Teacher phone tree is a great idea

My brother lives in the USA and in his area they are doing a "last minute call" type system to use up left over vaccine at the end of each day. He's signed up with the local health provider and might get a call to be there within 30 minutes ... Sounds like a good idea to me rather than wasting vaccine.

Should we be doing something similar??

Why should the surgery pay a nurse to go to the local police station? The police can go to the surgery like everybody else who isn't housebound

Because one person travelling (nurse), makes more sense than taking say, 5 Police off the streets, and sending them to the surgery on the off chance that there might be spare vaccines going that day. The nurse would always find a few cops in the station. If a 999 call came in, only the cop being vaccinated would be unavailable to jump in a car and go.

@SmidgenofaPigeon

Don’t they have to throw away unused ones at the end of the day though? Also it’s only one dose right? What’s he going to do when he needs the second one in a few weeks?

They are supposed to have a reserve list of people eligible for the vaccine. The OP wasn't advocating throwing the the vaccine away.

It would be wasted otherwise so please don’t be livid.

The lists are being put together but not in all areas yet.

@SummerBlondey

Surely each Surgery could send a nurse to the local Police Station with any left over vaccines??

If think if there is enough vaccine and a nurse available they should go to a care home and vaccinate people who are actually in the top priority groups.

@Wheresthebeach I mentioned upthread there is a reserve list - I am a volunteer at a hub. The hub opens 8am - 8pm 7 days a week if there are supplies and currently not able to open 7 days a week.

There is a reserve list. The reserves are contacted, or some at least. This can be quite time consuming - sometimes you strike lucky and the first couple answer and come in, sometimes 20 calls later no one can come down.

Some say it is too short notice, some do not answer the phone and the elderly may need a family member to transport them.

If someone is being vaccinated and has a carer with them, the carer can be offered a spare dose.

It may be 7pm or later at that point. You don't necessarily know at 2pm that you will have spare doses if everyone so far has turned up. It may be that the patients nearer to closing time are the ones who do not show.

I only know what happens where I volunteer.