Everyone over 70 in England can now book themselves!

[notevenat20]

www.nhs.uk/book-a-coronavirus-vaccination/do-you-have-an-nhs-number

I had no idea. Apologies if this is common knowledge.

Does anyone know when they upload new appointments/allow more people to book? Are any areas on 65+ (69 and 3/4) to book?

So ILs has letters today but option was only for appointments at a busy city centre mass vaccination centre. While keen to have the vaccine they do not want to go to busy places which is understandable. They have spoken with their local GP surgery who said they will be offered an appointment there in about 2 weeks time so have opted for this instead. I am a little concerned as really wanted them protected sooner rather than later but I do understand their logic.

@shalalala anecdotal evidence from locally that they are on to priority 6 now.....but I still can’t book DH in using the link so 🤷‍♀️ Tbh wasn’t expecting to for another couple of weeks anyway. I think 65+ is priority 5 so hoping it won’t be too long for you.

The reality is though that most people there will have either been vaccinated or will have been shielding or been very careful as they are all vulnerable, hence vaccination. I understand the dilemma though, but whose to say the GP is any safer - we don’t know who was there before us.

I live in Bath and North East Somerset about 300 yards from the border with Somerset. Based on my postcode I was offered Bath Racecourse and Bath and West Show Ground so I choose to go south rather than drive through the centre of Bath. The two centres only opened in the last couple of weeks and before then it would have been in Bristol or at the GP surgery so I think more hubs will probably open in the South West.

There seems to be extra hubs opening up in more rural areas now, worth keep checking, group 4 and have managed to book at nearby hub that has only been open few days and other options were 2 hubs about hours drive away

It’s false information that no hubs in south west, there’s quite a few all over now so do check if waiting and group 1-4

I don’t understand the comments about people thinking it says to wait for a letter, I didn’t read it like that at all, one of the boxes is asking the question but the screen I had doesn’t say anything about needing to have had a letter and if say no it doesn’t stop you booking

@Freetodowhatiwant

If your parents have moved
More reason to use this link.

Because they wont receive there letters,

Please do use it

@Hophop26

It’s false information that no hubs in south west, there’s quite a few all over now so do check if waiting and group 1-4

I don’t understand the comments about people thinking it says to wait for a letter, I didn’t read it like that at all, one of the boxes is asking the question but the screen I had doesn’t say anything about needing to have had a letter and if say no it doesn’t stop you booking

It does say you can only use the online service to book if you have received a letter. It’s very clear. But you can still use it if you are in the right priory group without the actual letter, in reality.

The banner about the letter has been removed.

Good news! I got my text offering me a vaccination so I obviously was on the GP list. Booked in for tomorrow. Thanks for the advice earlier in the thread.

The banner about the letter has been removed.

Ooh. Time to let gransnet know?

@QuantumQuality

The banner about the letter has been removed.

I’ve just checked. It hasn’t changed. It still says: “If you have received a letter inviting you to book a coronavirus vaccination, you can book it. Please do not try to book a vaccination if you have not received a letter.”

Yes, the warning is still there so I still don’t see that it is meant to be used? If it’s just poor wording it really should be amended!

I booked for my mum yesterday. There was availability for today. Ironically an hour after I had booked her GP practice rang to offer an appointment. From discussion, a lot of people in our area had apparently been booking themselves via the website. There was no problem or issue with the GP doing this, so spread the word. Get booking!!

I’ve booked online - no letter, I’m CEV. I’ve been receiving shielding letters, emails and calls, yet my GP missed me off the flu jab list (which they normally offer me every year). So I don’t trust them to contact me about the Covid vaccine and we’re constantly being asked not to phone GPs to check. I’ve booked in for myself at a hub and it has done wonders for my anxiety.

My elderly dad received his vaccine invite a week after he had been for his appointment. I don’t think the NHS can keep the flow of communication going quickly enough at the moment, so why wait for your jab if you’re able to book yourself in? When I booked there were tons of appointments available. Good luck to everyone booking for yourselves / relatives.

@nivular I told her to try again earlier in the morning when it might be less busy. I would never offer to do it for her - she's more IT literate than I am as she spends her entire life on her lap top either doing family history research or sorting out the legal stuff to do with a property she owns.

Coincidence?! I booked my 61 year old cev mum a slot the other day and the next day she received a call from the gp inviting her in for her vaccine!
I wonder if booking on this link flagged her name up somehow as I've seen lots of people have had a similar thing happen

@MisiSam - no, the two systems are completely separate, and GPs don’t know if patients have booked through that link. However, the patient’s record is updated once they’ve had the vaccine, so the GP should know not to invite them after that.

It’s not much of a coincidence that your mum got the call from the GP - there’s a target to do all over 70s and CEV by mid Feb, so GPs will be blitzing through those people inviting them.

Just also putting the list of all vaccination sites here again, so you can check if one is near you/near a relative:

here-

HH means hospital hubs, where you can’t book as a member of the public (they’re doing hospital patients and health and care staff).

VC is vaccination centre, use the mass vaccs sites.

PCN is Prinary Care Network, which means GP-led sites not necessarily a GP surgery

Pharmacy is pharmacy-led sites, not necessarily an actual pharmacy.

Dh had his letter on Friday, his jab yesterday at a local hub and a phone call this morning from the Gp. I think there must have been a delay with the letter!

Our GPS are suing text to invite people to book an appointment. Much quicker than letters but I’m not sure what happens if you don’t have a mobile!

Some people are reporting that their letters are arriving 2 weeks after the date on the letter, so there are definitely delays in some areas.

Had mine today thanks to this thread !!! 🙏

Has anyone over 70 tried and failed to book an appointment in Northumberland? A friend has tried to book for her mum, age 74, and it said she isn't eligible. I'm guessing this means her letter hasn't been generated yet?