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.

The online booking usually offers an appointment at a hub. It is great for those who can travel. That must surely free up spaces at local gp and pharmacy centres. The big hubs have loads of slots. If you aren't eligible you can't book. I don't see the problem.

I am appreciative of the link. I don’t mind travelling (it’s a trip out!!) and preferred to have a jab tomorrow than wait a week for slot at GP’s. My only fear is needing the loo

Leicester royal infirmary posted the booking site onto Facebook this morning and said anyone aged 70+ can use the site to book a vaccine appointment.

So some trusts are clearly trying to encourage booking that way.

I guess it also sweeps up some of those who have been missed x

This is how it works.

There are a group of eligible people.
For arguments sake let's say a million.
They are all eligible. No one person within the group is 'more' eligible.

The patients are spread across (for example) ten thousand surgeries.
That means that each surgery works down a list of a hundred people to book them in.

If like me, you have used the link provided and as an eligible person you were able to book an appointment at a hub. You would be offered one where there was a space. Based on 'soonest ' . So this means I was offered one the day after I booked - but not locally. This was fine for me as I drive and have no issue driving 21 miles to get vaccinated in a slot that was not booked.

Obviously- the number of people eligible is not evenly spread across all Surgeries. Therefore the place I got an immediate slot had obviously offered all their eligible people already. That slot would of remained empty. Had I not used it.

The day after booking , I was offered a slot at a local hub for 5 days time. I was able to say that I already had a slot for that day and another hub. The caller thanked me. Made a note of where I was having the jab and could then add another person to her call list. Giving someone a chance for a jab - who may not have been called until next week.

The system works well and makes efficient use of available slots. Minimising wasted time.

Presumably booking online is a bit of a blunt instrument and only allows you to book if you have an appropriate date of birth.

If you are in a higher group because of your state of health you will still have to do via your surgery is that right?

No, I'm in my 40s but cev and used the booking system. I think this was probably easier to do with our group though as we've all been collated and getting letters throughout the year. I'm not sure how that will work with the cv cohort.

No, it’s based on your patient record which is why it asks for your NHS number.

My 30 year old CEV friend booked via it and had her jab a few days ago :)

If you are in a higher group because of your state of health you will still have to do via your surgery is that right?

I think it looks you up and checks if you are eligible. This could be for any number of reasons.

It is worth saying that you don’t NEED your NHS number to book. It will ask you if you have it but if you can’t you can enter your name, DOB and postcode and it will match up your records to see if you are eligible.

Therefore the place I got an immediate slot had obviously offered all their eligible people already.

No, that isn’t right. They won’t necessarily have offered all their eligible people slots already, not at a hub. The slots are for anyone in the priority group. There is no “their”eligible people belonging to a hub. It just telling you where there is availability. Local people can book to go there just the same as those further afield.

Thanks to all who have been answering queries.

I have finally persuaded my husband to book, and he is having his first dose on Saturday and is also booked in for the second one at the end of April.

Thank for this. I mentioned it to Dh for his parents and his mum got the jab on Monday. His dad's is Saturday.

They hadn't had a letter yet but are well into their 70s. Mine had had theirs over the last couple of weeks in a different area, but only got the letter via email.

As a test to check that they really were eligible, I tried and couldn't book one (40's, asthma but not severe.)

Just had an invite text from my GP to book in at another surgery. Thankful I booked the hub now as it's 2 mins away compared to 15!

Does anyone understand how this is working? Thanks to this link my 30 year old CEV friend is now vaccinated. I also just spoke to our 71 year old neighbour, in and out of the GP ever week for blood tests, no vaccine letter yet. I told her about this link and tried to book for her - straight through with availability morning and afternoon, every day for a week. Why? How? It seems ridiculous that so many are still at risk and could be booked in ASAP.

Is this going to be the case for all of us?

They will get round to everyone. I was called by the GP yesterday (I had already booked a slot). There may be a large number of over 80s and over 75s in that particular area, therefore the GP surgeries will be getting to the cev and over 70s a bit later than another area which may have fewer people of that demographic.

@doireallyneedaname

Does anyone understand how this is working? Thanks to this link my 30 year old CEV friend is now vaccinated. I also just spoke to our 71 year old neighbour, in and out of the GP ever week for blood tests, no vaccine letter yet. I told her about this link and tried to book for her - straight through with availability morning and afternoon, every day for a week. Why? How? It seems ridiculous that so many are still at risk and could be booked in ASAP.

Is this going to be the case for all of us?

@doireallyneedaname I've explained it above, please read my post from yesterday

Just did - thank you.

At what point will they make this link “public” so to speak though? If people knew about it then they’d be able to get vaccinated ASAP and slots wouldn’t be sat there empty.

The vaccination centre available for both my friend and 70yr old neighbour is a 15 minute walk away from both of them!

@doireallyneedaname they are making the link 'public' by sending out the physical letters. It's just that sending out so many letters takes ages. Remember, the target of all over 70s and ECV is mid-Feb so there will still be letters sitting in the post.

I am so cross with my mum. She tells me today she's now ill. And despite me telling her about your website, she thought her letter might be bogus and hasn't booked, because none of her friends got a letter.

God give me strength.

Oh dear. The old lady down the road was going “shall I book it? Go on, dare me! Shall I? Dare me!!!” and laughing her head off, god bless her. She decided to wait another week and if the letter hasn’t come through she wants me to book it.

Bumping this thread as it is so important. My Dad booked in this evening for Saturday- there was loads of availability which makes you wonder if the hubs are being used to capacity. Thanks to everyone who has been clarifying why this is ok. It should be more widely known about.

Had my appointment today, booked via this link. Everything went swimmingly, no waiting, staff at the venue lovely and I feel fine. Thank you once again for posting this OP - I am so pleased to have got it done. Second appointment booked for 10 weeks from now.

My opposite neighbour travelled to another county to get it done Shes in her 60s

Placemarking to come back to thread

Unless this 70-year-old neighbour is disabled or ill, a 15-minute walk is nothing for a person of that age. I don’t know any able-bodied 70-year-olds who can’t walk for that time, let alone when it’s for something as important as this vaccine.

I honestly think some people won’t be happy unless they get a personal vaccination service in their home so they don’t have to put down the remote control.