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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:
yearinyearout · 31/01/2021 07:51

So basically she's using a nhs staff link to cheat her way into a vaccine, which she will likely get as they don't tend to check ID on the door. Way to go.

DonLewis · 31/01/2021 07:57

At our vaccine hub, if there looks like there will be leftovers, there is a shout out on social media and the radio for anyone in any of the 4 groups to phone up and books an appointment after 5 the same day. Atm you have to be in one of the priority groups to get a spare.

DinosaurDiana · 31/01/2021 08:00

@PickleSarnie

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?
Your vaccination is recorded and sent to your GP electronically. Theoretically you should get an appointment in about 12 weeks for the second. I’d love to know if this will actually happen, as I had mine as a spare at a hub.
Nacreous · 31/01/2021 08:02

The only thing I can think of the spares is if they have been sent a full Pfizer tray and say haven't filled all the slots for the final day before it expires then you might extend the booking availability?

Ch3rish · 31/01/2021 08:03

@PickleSarnie

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?
From what I've read your details go into the system as normal which triggers your 2nd appointment, they don't do random jabs without recording who they are giving them to and you get the same paperwork as everyone else
user1495884673 · 31/01/2021 08:04

@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.
Our local surgery is sending emails.
WorriedMillie · 31/01/2021 08:06

I know a police officer who was working at a vaccine centre, received his first dose, because there was excess stock at the end of the day. He’s in his 40s
And I know of two other people who were called late in the day, to see if they could get to the surgery in the next 20 min, to receive theirs (spare doses due to DNAs). They were in their 70s, but this was early on, when the over 80s were being vaccinated

CeeJay81 · 31/01/2021 08:07

Our health board have a list of people on the next down vulnerability group(so due to get it fairly soon anyway) who can make it at short notice to the hubs, think doctors have the same, cause someone I know got called up 5pm and if she couldn't make it there, she could have it. She had a letter to go in February anyway. The hubs advertise on FB etc for anyone who wants to go on the list.

CeeJay81 · 31/01/2021 08:08

Could make it there even*

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 31/01/2021 08:09

My DH is a police officer and the local vaccine hub called them about two weeks ago to say any officers that could get there in 20 minutes could be vaccinated, so he went and was given it. We’re very aware he was lucky.

Motorina · 31/01/2021 08:16

@Dubiousdebbie

She booked through a webpage link forwarded on
That would be an NHS slot for NHS staff. At our service, they were requiring NHS ID, or photo ID plus a letter from your employer confirming your entitlement if you didn't have a work ID.

I would hope all services would be so rigorous. If so, she'll be turned away at the door.

If not, she may have got a vaccine she shouldn't have through lying, as she would have had to declare she was NHS when she booked it. Which means you've learned a great deal about her character.

trappedsincesundaymorn · 31/01/2021 08:24

I missed having mine when my colleagues had theirs as it was my rest day so I was not at work. This week I had to accompany some of those I support to have theirs. After the last one the Dr said there was enough left over for 1 more vaccination and, as I had missed mine, did I want it there and then. Up went the sleeve, in went the needle. I guess I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 31/01/2021 08:29

I had my first AZ dose at a major hub the other day, part of the local university. I had mine early but there must have been several hundred throughout the day (all socially distanced and well ventilated - it was decidedly chilly.)

So I can well imagine there being a few no shows and any spares going to the non medic staff who were cheerfully directing people around the place (it was a bit of a maze) - and why not? They were nearly all young and I thought they were probably student volunteers, can’t be certain though.

Surely better than wasting it.

Might add that IMO it was extremely well organised.

yearinyearout · 31/01/2021 08:37

There's nothing wrong with using up spares at the end of the day, I'd rather they were used than thrown away. My own parents got theirs earlier than they would have because the surgery started ringing round asking for people who could get there within 15 minutes. There's a big difference between that and deliberately cheating the system.

Moraelin · 31/01/2021 08:40

I'm a police officer. We have been told that if we are offered the vaccine as a spare we are not allowed to accept as that would be seen as "jumping the queue". Even though we're having to go into houses where people have covid.

ThankYouDebbie · 31/01/2021 08:40

I was on reception for an NHS staff hub yesterday and we were checking IDs and/or letters from employers. The Trust had extended the offer to partner organisations like housing, patient transport, on-site builders but not friends and family. We said no to people who'd just been forwarded on the link. One or two tried to outright lie in order to get the vaccine.

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 31/01/2021 08:44

Our surgery has a list of people who can get there in 5 mins and calls them.

DinosaurDiana · 31/01/2021 12:10

@Moraelin

I'm a police officer. We have been told that if we are offered the vaccine as a spare we are not allowed to accept as that would be seen as "jumping the queue". Even though we're having to go into houses where people have covid.
You are no different to anyone else having a spare. Take it, you should all be jabbed anyway 🙏🏻
BungleandGeorge · 31/01/2021 12:14

@Dubiousdebbie

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.

It’s not possible to book a spare vaccine as they wouldn’t know in advance how many spares there are! Yes there are sometimes last minute spares at the last minute. Sounds like she might have been forwarded a link from a hospital booking site. It’s not allowed and should be reported. You need an ID so if she’s not eligible she won’t get it!
BungleandGeorge · 31/01/2021 12:16

The potential for spares with the AZ vaccine is much lower because unused vials are just stored in the fridge and don’t need using up. It’s only if they have a vial which is part booked for booked appointments.

DinosaurDiana · 31/01/2021 12:24

@BungleandGeorge

The potential for spares with the AZ vaccine is much lower because unused vials are just stored in the fridge and don’t need using up. It’s only if they have a vial which is part booked for booked appointments.
Once punctured it has to be used within 6 hours, so the full vial is used on the same day.
OverTheRainbow88 · 31/01/2021 12:36

Maybe they have spares at the end of every day so book people in to go and have one incase there’s a spares and not to waste any

BungleandGeorge · 31/01/2021 14:04

@DinosaurDiana yes unused=unpunctured. Different to Pfizer which you have to use on the same day once they’ve been delivered thawed

Original poster
Dubiousdebbie · 31/01/2021 15:50

Right update time.

Apparently the friend who had forwarded on the booking link text my friend asking her to cancel, apparently too many friends and family of nhs staff had booked with the link.

Link was legit as it linked to my friends nhs and email details (for those asking it sent a confirmation of the first and second jab dates)

Interestingly this situation has appeared on local social media today with NHS asking people not to turn up at the vaccine hub.

I honestly think a few members of staff have either got wind of a loophole in the system or they have genuinely been told they can share the link to a few people as there have been so many no shows.

So nice try hun but no jab for you.

OP posts:
BungleandGeorge · 31/01/2021 15:53

The links all specifically say not to share with anybody so I expect the ‘friend’ is potentially in trouble!