Vaccine queue jumping making me feel angry

[Snog]

SIL has been vaccinated already- she is a healthy 40 year old, works from home, no caring responsibilities.

It's made me feel surprisingly angry. I'm not clear how she managed it at this point. On a personal level I like SIL so am pleased for her but god I feel angry at the injustice.

I know some people have picked up "spare" doses but surely even the spare doses should be managed according to health priorities? Eg at least finding someone in groups 1-9 to vaccinate if not in groups 1-4.

AIBU to feel angry about this?

Well, all these weeks later I’ve still not got a sniff of a vaccine but the NHS workers’ friends and families are getting their second shots. This is totally corrupt.

@TorringtonDean

Well, all these weeks later I’ve still not got a sniff of a vaccine but the NHS workers’ friends and families are getting their second shots. This is totally corrupt.

Are they? I have 2 NHS family members and one friend, none of them have even had their second dose yet and I certainly haven't had my first.

The thing that strikes about this thread is how bitter some people are.

This strong sense some people have that they are always missing out and losing out, and inability to see the bigger picture of delivering 53m vaccines X2, is staggering.

We don’t have a queue of 53m people where everyone has an exact place in the queue and until each person is done, the next one can’t have their vaccine.....to run such a system would take over a decade and be ridiculous. But people can only think of themselves and their often incomplete idea of knowledge that they know someone younger who has been jabbed, or because they’ve read about the tiny fraction of left over doses being given to someone.....that isn’t them or their family.

Guess what.....lots of younger people will end up being done before older people. As the online booking system opens up to more and more people, those who don’t go on and book, or who delay because they don’t like the locations offers, will find they get done later. As we get to the end, it won’t just be the teenagers and 20s who are left, but all those in all older age groups who just didn’t get in and book but need multiple chasings up. The system cannot wait for every person in every category to have had the jab before the next group get offered...if we did that we would still be on group 1.
And of course regions go at different rates. Again, one area shouldn’t just stop altogether if they have supply, because somewhere else is still on the previous group.

The aim of this exercise is to get as many people vaccinated as fast as possible, and to broadly ensure they are done in vulnerability order. Some people have lost sight of that and seem just interested in some kind of ordering exercise and begrudge the vaccine to society as a whole, rather than seeing the bigger picture.

I wonder how many of those so sure it’s all corrupt an wrong have volunteered to be involved in the vaccination programme? Somehow I doubt it’s many.

I took a spare appointment on a lag day, was looking at appointments for my sister who is CV and they had many appointments available that day and after I went they still had appointments free.

I work in schools, my dd school friends parent is CEV so want protection and to reduce transmission. Social worker friends who are WFH and will continue to do so for the next year are "entitled" to have one due to their profession. Everyone will get one eventually, so why let appointments and vaccines go to waste.

*I am so sick of people posting their opinions like they are the covid police.

Surely that's one less person to be vaccinated?
I wish everyone would stop turning on each other.*

^This with bells on. Previously, they were moaning about those people who were breaking the rules. Now it's about who should or shouldn't have the vaccine.

While all this bitterness and jealousy is hardly edifying I am delighted at how keen most people are in the UK to have the vaccine.

A friend in a EU country, which had probably better remain nameless, tells me that where she is there is a lot of reluctance and rumours flying around and the vaccination program has hardly started. She herself would like to be done but jumping the non-existant queue isn't allowed either.

At least the British public are mostly getting along with it and, being British, allowing themselves some grumbles as they do.

I had mine yesterday I'm 41
But also a carer for my son. Is she a carer for someone?

@itispersonal so you queue jumped? I’d like to know how to do it. I know of sixth formers getting the jab but not a peep for me. If you look at the official figures second doses are now roaring ahead but first are just creeping up. It’s very galling when David Cameron and Jeremy Hunt get it before the rest of us. If I end up in hospital I will use a lot more NHS resources! Basically, I just want to do what I am told and get a jab.

I’ve followed the rules for a year! It’s not bitter to wish to get a life-saving vaccine in the correct order. We all heard at the beginning of all the friends and family getting jabs because it was “too difficult” to call up patients. I would have been there like a shot if called. But no, if I call the local surgery I just get the brick wall approach - patients are apparently a complete nuisance to them.

Tons of people round my way scamming it. Even admitting it. Just saying they are carers, not even being asked for ID. I've got friends who have been at home, doing part time charity jobs on their phones jabbed. 1 Cousin jabbed because they deliver food to hospitals and another because they work for county hall.

Whereas I asked my centre if I could be on list for spares, wanting to do it properly, and they said no. I'm a 49 year old asthmatic teacher in a hotspot. My GP told me May for mine at the earliest. I'm back with a full class of 36 on Monday. I've worked with bubbles all year.

It's fucked up. It seems to be an utter postcode lottery, and mine is shit. We haven't even done all the over 70's yet.

Exactly, people are scamming or getting friends in. I’m starting to feel I’m pushed to the side while the sharp-elbowed lot get in.

@TorringtonDean we have swiftqueue to book appointments for our local nhs trust. I booked through that. I've cared for my 70+ yo mum, throughout the pandemic- food shopping, banking, prescriptions, feet maintenance, the SEN children in my school. Boris can lie it safe for teachers and Michael Wiltshaw can say teachers should be willing to sacrifice their lives but both can do one.

Family members have gone to the vaccination centre with CEV family members on their appointments and asked if they've had cancellations and got vaccinated that way.

There are lag days, vaccinations are ready before letters sent out and appointments booked. If there wasn't appointment or few appointments I would obviously have waited.

I’m a carer for my daughter who has MH problems, I order her prescriptions, attend phone appointments with her and of course make sure she is fed, housed etc. I suppose it’s called being a parent but it’s more than some have to do. I don’t qualify for queue jumping though. If only I had the chance to ask if there were spare appointments. I’ve waited patiently up to now but it has got to me today. I phoned the GP’s and actually got through, only to meet a brick wall. Demoralising. Various friends had been nagging me to try and get a jab. But now?

@TorringtonDean I don't know what to say I completely understand your frustration. I know as they are going down the categories, fewer people are getting their vaccinations , due to their own views on it.

No vaccine/ appointment should be going to waste!
That just seems counter productive, when every adult is going to offered to have it!

Do you have swift queue to book?

I can see the NHS booking portal but I don’t qualify for the vaccine on that. I don’t think I can claim to be a carer - I don’t get carer’s allowance or anything. I’m just saying I do care for someone else! The doctor’s receptionist was as unhelpful as ever. I don’t ever seem to have a good experience with them. Totally dismissive of me. Really put me in my place. I don’t think I’ve ever had a good experience there. I actually am very nervous about doctors and try to avoid them where possible. It’s not like I’m in there every day with some complaint or other. I just wanted the vaccine which will stop the NHS being overwhelmed.

My husband literally was just phoned by our GP as they had spare jabs going. Hes 39, no underlying conditions. I thought it might be as he's listed as Police but apparently because he had a blood clot in 2018 they bumped him up the list.

I'm 40, a bit overweight and asthmatic and I dont begrudge him or anyone else getting the jab before me. I already had covid over Xmas, so I'm not in a rush.

I think griping that you're angry as people are getting the vaccine before you is so distasteful, granny and entitled. Everyone who wants the vaccine will get the vaccine. Surely the more people who get it, whatever their circumstances the better?

I get that others having vaccines makes me safer. What I don't get or like is some of the parents of kids in my class, who have openly "scammed" the vaccine, now arranging parties because they are safe. Which I won't be. Or the kids in my class whose parents haven't done this. That makes me very cross because it puts us all at risk.

@Snog actually it is hard to find people for spares at the end of the day. I have seen at vaccination centre, volunteers going through the list calling people to come in for spares. People refuse and say they can't come now or say they will come in an hour. Now people at centre are tired and it needs to close in 15 mins. They can't sit around waiting for people for 3 spare doses, specially after 6 hours of standing shift. They still try but ...

I think the “entitled” people are the scammers. Not me! I’ve waited my turn but now I see a load of younger people going before me and wonder if I’m left behind. I don’t have extended family. If I die my children will have nobody so I am trying to stay alive for their sake.

@TorringtonDean Can be unpaid carer (to someone elderly or disabled) and you getting ill would cause a welfare risk.

Boris is still going along the herd immunity line. Look after you is what I say, you are just a number to them. But actually we are human, mothers etc.

@TorringtonDean can you register as carer at GP? You don't have to be in receipt of carers allowance. Just need to look after someone vulnerable. You may need to fill in a carers form at GP practice. They shouldn't be able to deny you as a carer, if so contact a Carers Society/Charity for advice.

She’s probably group 6 but doesn’t want to have to share her medical issues with you.

My GP practice is totally unhelpful. This is the doctor who told me there was nobody to refer my daughter to for help. Several anguished years later, after a suicide attempt and a second alarming incident we finally have help from the service he said didn’t exist. Obviously I can’t go in to fill in a form as nobody seems to physically enter that practice any more. I always feel I am being belittled and dismissed. Young people’s problems are not taken seriously and apparently nor are mine. It takes a toll if your child has MH problems. I’m not sure I want another conversation in which I am told they can’t help me. We should have switched doctors in the past.