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.

Thank you so much for this. I’m CEV and under 70 and it let me book. I had tried the link a couple of days ago and it wouldn’t let me so I’m presuming that they’ve updated it to include the rest of the first 4 groups.

The “wait for your letter” thing is because the NHS mean “don’t try to book if you aren’t eligible” and “don’t try to book if you are a long way from a vaccination centre”, but if you are eligible, then you absolutely can book. You aren’t taking a place away from anyone, and the government absolutely wants as many over 70s and CEV to book because we are trying to get through those cohorts as soon as possible.

Thank you so much for the link, my Dad, Auntie & Uncle are due to have their's today (over 75 & had their letters) but Mum hadn't yet had her letter (she's 71)... thanks to the link we booked her in & she will also be having her's today too

Thank you. I have sent it to my mum.

Thank you so much!! My mum is 71. The local clinic is only doing 1 day of vaccination every 2 weeks?! This has made me sooo happy

Is there anything 'official' out there which explains that it's ok to do it without a letter?

My PIL's are eligible but as they've not received a letter, they won't book in. They stick to the rules. But they'd be happy to book in if there was an 'official' link saying it's ok without the letter.

(I've tried explaining until I'm blue in the face that's it's ok - but they're not having it!)

Thank you ! I have just booked my cev mum in .

Good luck to everyone booking but the link provided specifically says wait until you are contacted - is there some other guidance that says different?

Question!
When I booked my cev mum in it said "you have missed your first jab, please rebook"
Did anyone else get this message pop up? She hasn't missed her first jab to her knowledge she under 70 with COPD so wouldn't have been invited any earlier.

@MisiSam

Question! When I booked my cev mum in it said "you have missed your first jab, please rebook" Did anyone else get this message pop up? She hasn't missed her first jab to her knowledge she under 70 with COPD so wouldn't have been invited any earlier.

Yes. I tried booking for my late-80s parents. First time it said they weren’t eligible, second time, an hour later, I got that message about having missed the appointment. There are glitches in the system somehow.

@MisiSam

Question! When I booked my cev mum in it said "you have missed your first jab, please rebook" Did anyone else get this message pop up? She hasn't missed her first jab to her knowledge she under 70 with COPD so wouldn't have been invited any earlier.

Yes bizarrely my mum got that, but just keep going through the system. It doesn't seem to affect anything.

@OliviaPopeRules

Good luck to everyone booking but the link provided specifically says wait until you are contacted - is there some other guidance that says different?

The system won’t let you book if you are not eligible. Being able to book means your letter has been created but has not reached you yet, and with postal delays in many areas letters are taking a week or so to arrive.

Other posters have spoken to the official helpline (119) and their own GPS who have all said if the system offers you an appointment - take it!

Thanks Cavemum

I’ve just sent to my aunt and uncle. They’re real rule followers though, so I’m not sure they’ll use it.

I done it this way.

CEV, Spoke to staff at the hub yesterday and the dr there who was doing the jabs and they were all reassuring it was fine as they wouldnt let u book if you wasnt entitled to one

I was told about the link by a director of public health . It's definitely official.

Thank you so much. I’ve been waiting for my diabetic over 70 mum to get her letter with baited breath and now both her and my dad (also over 70) are booked in.

Thanks for this OP, my mum is almost 72 and numerous health problems, but I think her surgery has been painfully slow (compared to mine in the same town who are all over social media with progress). She’s now booking in at a centre a few miles away, we’re very happy to drive her.

Fabulous OP, my mum is booked in for tomorrow and no doubt has we speak sharing this information with all her friends. I feel there is some hope at last.

Thanks OP ! ECV here. (56yrs old) both appointments booked . First tomorrow, second mid April. So thrilled.

Thanks so much for this thread. I’m CEV and saw this thread last night, the website let me book and I’m just back from having the vaccine today! Feels like the start of a new era, so happy!

I saw the thread last week but it said i wasnt eligible to book when I tried it. Then someone said it had opened up to CEV and I tried again on Friday, booked for Saturday and had my jab.
I have heard nothing from my GP or had a letter.
I thought all the mass vax centres were in cities but thus was just a small pharmacy about 15 miles away.

Excellent booked my mum and cev sis on law

Thankyou so much - happy parents just back from jab at vaccination hub.

I only booked them yesterday morning, there were plenty of slots available.

@Skyppy

I saw the thread last week but it said i wasnt eligible to book when I tried it. Then someone said it had opened up to CEV and I tried again on Friday, booked for Saturday and had my jab. I have heard nothing from my GP or had a letter. I thought all the mass vax centres were in cities but thus was just a small pharmacy about 15 miles away.

The booking link lets you book at the big Vaccination Centres (around 50) and at the smaller pharmacy-led sites (around 100 currently, more to come).

So not that many people live near the pharmacy sites. And it doesn’t let you book at the GP-led sites (over 1,000 of them), you’ve got to wait for them to contact you.

But still well worth having a look on the booking link, if you’re eligible!