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Original poster

Everyone over 70 in England can now book themselves!

442 replies

notevenat20 · 30/01/2021 14:48

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

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

OP posts:
QueenPawPaws · 06/02/2021 18:04

@PusheenLove nothing! They just asked for my booking reference number

PusheenLove · 06/02/2021 18:34

[quote QueenPawPaws]@PusheenLove nothing! They just asked for my booking reference number [/quote]
Thanks 😊

55larry · 06/02/2021 18:43

The Bath and Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Health Trust has just announced you can now book on line via NHS link and that you don’t have to wait for your letter if you are over 70.

Good news for a large number of people if they were watching Points West this evening.

gisbons · 06/02/2021 19:38

@55larry

The Bath and Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Health Trust has just announced you can now book on line via NHS link and that you don’t have to wait for your letter if you are over 70.

Good news for a large number of people if they were watching Points West this evening.

Excellent stuff!

MNHQ have completely ignored my request to reinstate the original threads. Such a shame as you can clearly see how many people they have/ would have helped.

I guess they don’t want to have to admit they were wrong 😉

Wigeon · 06/02/2021 20:48

Cohorts 5 and 6 are going to be eligible really soon, given the government has a target to offer everyone in cohorts 1-4 the jab by mid Feb. And as this thread has shown, some GPs are already doing some people in cohorts 5 and 6...

The booking link originally said you needed a letter to stop millions of people crashing the system at once, not being able to get appointments, and because the vaccination centres and pharmacy sites don’t cover the entire county. So the NHS didn’t want to say anyone can book, only to get loads of complaints from people in deepest Norfolk, or Cornwall, or other rural areas, complaining they’re miles from one of the sites bootable on the link (even though they’ll be a GP site much nearer to them).

However, now a good number of the over 70s have been done, and there is still really good appointment availability at the vaccination centres, I think we are very likely to see that message (about not booing until you’ve got a letter) changing soon, given the government wants as many over 70s and clinically extremely vulnerable to have been jabbed by mid Feb.

Wigeon · 06/02/2021 20:51

For those with friends / relatives refusing to book - rather than accusations of queue jumping, how about looking at it the reverse way? Cohorts 5 and 6 won’t become eligible until the NHS has got through the great majority of cohorts 1-4 (ie the over 70s, clinically extremely vulnerable, and health and care staff). So actually, if you are eligible now, and given there is definitely appointment availability via the booking link, by holding back, you are delaying cohorts 5 and 6 becoming eligible...

gisbons · 06/02/2021 21:06

@Wigeon

Cohorts 5 and 6 are going to be eligible really soon, given the government has a target to offer everyone in cohorts 1-4 the jab by mid Feb. And as this thread has shown, some GPs are already doing some people in cohorts 5 and 6...

The booking link originally said you needed a letter to stop millions of people crashing the system at once, not being able to get appointments, and because the vaccination centres and pharmacy sites don’t cover the entire county. So the NHS didn’t want to say anyone can book, only to get loads of complaints from people in deepest Norfolk, or Cornwall, or other rural areas, complaining they’re miles from one of the sites bootable on the link (even though they’ll be a GP site much nearer to them).

However, now a good number of the over 70s have been done, and there is still really good appointment availability at the vaccination centres, I think we are very likely to see that message (about not booing until you’ve got a letter) changing soon, given the government wants as many over 70s and clinically extremely vulnerable to have been jabbed by mid Feb.

Agreed. My friend got the vaccination today. He said the place was empty and reckoned there were a good 12 stations not being used, although they were staffed. Sad
Oblomov21 · 07/02/2021 10:17

In fact, even today, the NHS website says:

In big yellow bold:

Wait to be contacted
The NHS will let you know when it's your turn to have the vaccine. It's important not to contact the NHS for a vaccination before then.
Letters are being sent out every week – you might not get your letter straight away.

So this isn't helpful is it.

And as a PP said this is was originally done because we didn't want stupid people ringing their GP surgery all the time asking 'when will I be done, when will I be done' but things have moved on since then and I don't think the NHS current advice is helping.

Original poster
notevenat20 · 07/02/2021 10:22

@Oblomov20. My GP surgery website also says don't get in contact until you have a letter etc and then proceeds lower down the same page to give the NHS booking line with a message saying you don't need an invitation to use it.

It's just the usual bureacratic muddled messaging . But the good news is you can cut through it with one click.

OP posts:
ExpulsoCorona · 07/02/2021 11:58

I'm a GP and even on Friday I had loads of calls from people in group 6 asking when they will be vaccinated. We haven't got on to group 6 yet. We don't know when we'll get there, hopefully soon. We only have 5 phone lines, it makes it so much harder to deal with patients who actually need to get hold of us.

Original poster
notevenat20 · 07/02/2021 12:01

I'm a GP and even on Friday I had loads of calls from people in group 6 asking when they will be vaccinated. We haven't got on to group 6 yet. We don't know when we'll get there, hopefully soon. We only have 5 phone lines, it makes it so much harder to deal with patients who actually need to get hold of us

Yes I can see that. Is the info on your web page?

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 07/02/2021 12:30

When will we know when group 5 is eligible? Is it a case of just entering the persons details every few days until it lets you book?

Comefromaway · 07/02/2021 12:32

My parents are in group 5 and have had a letter from their dr giving info on side effects, allergies etc for when they are eligible so I assume it’s imminent.

I’m group 6 at the same dr and not had anything.

ShakeTheDisease · 07/02/2021 13:38

My surgery's automatic phone message is well behind and says they're currently doing the 80+ patients, when they're actually onto group 4 and contacted me this week. It would help if little things like updating the message could be sorted. That might stop some people calling. As would telling eligible people they can use the link and book themselves in!

CaveMum · 08/02/2021 11:57

Bumping

Inthevirtualwaitingroom · 08/02/2021 12:06

i doubt they have the time to update!

PatriciaHolm · 08/02/2021 17:07

The booking website has finally removed the need for a letter! it now says you can book if you are aged 70 or over, or have previously received a letter saying you are ECV. You also need to be registered with a GP.

finally!

QueenPawPaws · 08/02/2021 17:15

And they've just said in the briefing you can book if you're over 70 online
Shame they forgot to mention the rest of group 4 so the shielding ECV HmmAngry

SilenceIsNoLongerSuspicious · 08/02/2021 17:18

@PatriciaHolm

The booking website has finally removed the need for a letter! it now says you can book if you are aged 70 or over, or have previously received a letter saying you are ECV. You also need to be registered with a GP.

finally!

That’s brilliant news!

It also has a ‘what to do if snow causes issues’ bit, which is very sensible.

wintertravel1980 · 08/02/2021 17:22

Hancock has just mentioned at the briefing that people over 70 should proactively book their vaccine appointments:

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/08/nhs-asks-over-70s-in-england-to-book-covid-vaccine-appointment

Oblomov21 · 08/02/2021 17:23

Finally. Hoorah.
GrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrin

Matt Hancock on 5pm briefing, said it had now changed. And previously they had asked us to wait to be contacted, not to contact say GP.

But now 1-4 contact us if not had it. Finally.

littlegirlost · 08/02/2021 17:27

My dad (70) is going tomorrow and my mum (63) is having to take him. What are the chances of my mum having the jab as well if she asks nicely? Any experience of this being allowed to happen?

Imbehindthemask · 08/02/2021 18:34

I'm struggling to book DF 75 in online. It's saying to book 2 appointments (2nd one in 11 weeks) but there's no availability for 2nd appointment, so it won't let me book the 1st one. I just get a check back later message. Surely I should be able to book the 1st, then check availability for the second later. Has anyone else had this?

gisbons · 08/02/2021 18:47

@Imbehindthemask

I'm struggling to book DF 75 in online. It's saying to book 2 appointments (2nd one in 11 weeks) but there's no availability for 2nd appointment, so it won't let me book the 1st one. I just get a check back later message. Surely I should be able to book the 1st, then check availability for the second later. Has anyone else had this?
No, you have to book them both at the same time I'm afraid. I think the only thing to do is to keep checking. I realise it's frustrating.
gisbons · 08/02/2021 18:48

@littlegirlost

My dad (70) is going tomorrow and my mum (63) is having to take him. What are the chances of my mum having the jab as well if she asks nicely? Any experience of this being allowed to happen?
Within the experience of my group of friends and family, I would say she has a decent chance! Wink