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Original poster

What really happens to spare vaccines?

89 replies

Dubiousdebbie · 30/01/2021 20:51

My friend today has claimed that she has booked a “spare” vaccine for tomorrow - apparently there are loads free because of no turn ups.

Is this true - she’s sent me the text message with her booking on and it looks legit?

Wouldn’t they try and fill the spaces with 65 year olds first?

My friend is 42 no health issues not in NHS or social care.

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 30/01/2021 22:02

If she has a vaccinator contact that is more believable. There was a story here the other day about a 35 year old who got it a similar way.

Kat2000 · 30/01/2021 22:02

Unfortunately the email looks so legit

Frazzled2207 · 30/01/2021 22:04

@Kat2000

If she received an email it is a scam, they don’t send emails. I had one so rang to check. They would only invite you by letter or phone call.
That only applies if you are in the over 70 group surely. People get spares by all kinds of means.
Original poster
Dubiousdebbie · 30/01/2021 22:07

@Rosehip10 I’m wondering this too - presumably she’s had to say she’s nhs or social care staff?

When they are for proof on the door she’s going to be in trouble surely

OP posts:
duffmcstockings · 30/01/2021 22:09

My sister is working in a vaccine site, if there is a few left at the end of the day they move heaven and earth to give it to someone. Even if it means staying an extra hour on their day off. They start with local vulnerable people, but if necessary drag people in off the street. Seriously, it would be less trouble to toss them in the bin.

duffmcstockings · 30/01/2021 22:10

Luckily for us, they are trying to save as many people as possible

Original poster
Dubiousdebbie · 30/01/2021 22:12

@duffmcstockings Please thank your sister for everything she’s doing Flowers

OP posts:
LemonadeFromLemons · 30/01/2021 22:19

@Kat2000

Not sure if you mean just the general population. For NHS staff you are sent an email where you follow a link to book your slot. On arrival at the centre you then check in with your details.

MrsBeltane · 30/01/2021 22:22

I work in one of the mass vax centres. For the last couple of hours before we close, we constantly keep counting the remaining appointments and compare with the number of vaccines out of the fridge.
In an ideal world everything balances at the end of a shift. If there are any spares we will make sure that all staff and volunteers are vaccinated, then we make calls from a list to use the remaining doses on people who are vulnerable/NHS/carers.
We try so hard not to waste any.

TheVeryHungryTortoise · 30/01/2021 22:27

I'm working as a vaccinator in a hub. We have a Trust wide policy that there is strictly no wastage, we literally do not close our hub and send staff home until every dose of prepared vials has been given out. It does sound particularly unusual for someone to get a wastage vaccine by booking in advance. We wouldn't offer it that way, but I can't speak for different centres. For example, yesterday evening we had some left over doses. The manager had been offering a few family members of those who came for their vaccines the chance to wait and possibly get a vaccine, so the few leftovers went to various relatives who came to the hub with a booked in patient.

I do wonder if sometimes people don't want to tell people about a particular health condition that they have, so pretend that they got the vaccine in a wacky way rather than through being CEV. I vaccinated a patient recently who felt so much shame and guilt about their particular health condition that they couldn't even verbalise it out loud to me, and I had to approach answering his related questions in a very sensitive manner whilst still making sure he was completely informed. If they tell anyone about having the vaccine I doubt they will be explaining the exact reason.

MadeForThis · 30/01/2021 22:36

Totally support left over vaccines being given to anyone who can make it there. If someone is available why would you throw it in a bin?

TitInATrance · 30/01/2021 22:40

It’s not left over if it’s booked a day in advance, is it?

BenoneBeauty · 30/01/2021 22:43

I completely support left overs being used too - I'd definitely sign up to a register to get contacted for any leftovers as I could be there at the drop of the hat (location depending obviously!)

hartof · 30/01/2021 22:48

I use don't get why staff aren't being employed to ring around a list of patients should there be any no shows to get people in. I bet most younger people would turn up no matter how much notice they got.

Oblomov20 · 30/01/2021 22:54

I was offered one because of no shows 2 weeks ago.
I have 2 friends working in vaccination centres. They say they have many non shows every day. They have at the end of the day offered it to staff, maintenance men working in the hospital and members of the public/patients who were attending the hospital, rather than dispose of it/waste it.

alwnahala · 30/01/2021 22:54

There are links where you can book, I was sent one for my local mass vaccination centre today, however it was spread via misinformation and being abused by some people. It certainly wasn't for spare jabs and I can't see how you could book in advance for that. Sounds like she is misusing an NHS staff booking link.

daisychains8 · 30/01/2021 22:57

I had one today. Got a text at 5.30pm.
If I could get to the centre in 10 mins I could have it, as they had spare and didn't want to throw any away. I've never made it out of my house so fast in all my life.
I'm delighted.

Heyahun · 30/01/2021 23:02

I just can’t care much or get too worked up about any of this tbh - even if it is happening - who cares - at least people are getting vaccinated and it stops them going in the bin.

Cuddling57 · 30/01/2021 23:13

It does seem odd to book an app in advance for a spare jab.
It's warming heart to hear of all the ways the spare doses are being used though. I hope they find it easy to get their second doses?

Starts to wonder past vaccine hubs at the end of the day ....

boon · 30/01/2021 23:14

I know an over 80 who went for his vaccine and they were binning vaccines because of no shows!!!

Frazzled2207 · 30/01/2021 23:21

@TitInATrance

It’s not left over if it’s booked a day in advance, is it?
What I was thinking.
MO1268 · 30/01/2021 23:22

They won't ask for proof at the door that she's NHS, they'll only ask if she has an appointment and perhaps want to see the booked appointment on her phone screen.

MO1268 · 30/01/2021 23:23

All they ask is name, dob and then verify doctor / address as the admin half of the vaccinating pair looks you up on the spine.

ineedaholidaynow · 30/01/2021 23:29

I would understand if you could put your name down on a list to be contacted if there are any spares left over at the end of the day, but not actually book for them a day in advance. Unless they haven't actually been able to book all their slots.

PickleSarnie · 30/01/2021 23:36

Bit off tangent but, if you are one of those who gets a leftover spare but aren't in any of the priority groups, how would you get your second dose other than waiting until autumn or whenever everyone else gets them?