I'm trying to find information about the vaccine and am wondering if anyone here knows what I could do - I'm a bit stumped as to where else to ask. I have been volunteering over the last year and supporting a few people over the phone as part of our community response effort locally.
One of them is a woman in her early thirties. I think she should be in the 6th priority group for the vaccine as she has severe ongoing mental health issues (long term ones but has become mostly housebound in the last year because the virus has hit her anxiety really hard) and another health issue which I'm not even sure officially makes her CV but she isn't well.
She definitely hasn't had any kind of information about being classed as CV for shielding at any time in the last year - she's one of these people who has fallen through the cracks. She said she lives off a small amount of money her parents give her so she isn't officially on benefits and in the system in any way, she doesn't even ever visit her doctor - my understanding is she experienced sexual assault at the hands of a doctor years ago and has since refused to go anywhere near one. Having had the vaccine she would do better mentally - she said she has a private therapist she could then see face to face (it's seems to just be occasional phone calls atm). I have been talking to her today and she is really upset about this issue as she can't get through to anyone about asking to be added to that 6th priority group. The local GP surgery is very much 'don't even think of contacting us about the vaccine groups,' the only NHS email address she could track down sent a one line email about how 'priority groups can't be changed,' no doubt because lots of people want to chance it and find a way of getting it sooner. Is there any more she can do? This is a legitimate health issue, this is not someone trying to wrangle themselves a vaccine because they are generally having a hard time, before anyone thinks that - I know just about everybody is. She is genuinely very unwell with mental health issues - she was in and out of psychiatric hospitals as a teen so there should have been something flagged up by her GP that she is very vulnerable but that doesn't seem to have been spotted by anyone.
I just have no idea who else to suggest she contacts. If it can't be changed, it can't be changed, but if anyone knows who I suggest she talks to next, that would be appreciated. I am thinking our MP is one possibility? She hasn't written to the GP because of how firm the website is about not doing so but I still think he's a good person to talk to so he's aware of how unwell she is generally. I do know the vaccine has logistically been massively complicated to sort and lots need it for all sorts of serious reasons but won't be prioritised, so I am aware we might not be able to get anywhere with this issue. At least if that's the case she won't be the only one in this boat.