Guilt over getting vaccine

[PatsyKen]

DH and I are both teachers. We got a call an hour who from a doctor acquaintance who was doing covid jabs today and they had quite a few spare so they were all contacting teacher contacts to see if they get down to the vaccine centre ASAP. We live 10 minutes away so went immediately. I feel guilty! I feel bad I’ve jumped the queue when we’re in good health. We both are in daily contact with lots of children (I look after Y1/2 key worker kids rather than online teaching) but I feel almost embarrassed to have got it. Would you feel bad? Should I not have taken it?

That's brilliant news! Please don't feel bad. Teachers deserve them. Ive been told that at our local hub, there are often police & the fire service there to get surplus jabs. This is the first time I've heard of a teacher being lucky/in the right place/right time & it fills me with hope! I really think it's great & am just hoping they allow teachers to have them soon (hubby & I both teachers) as we are really scared about being in school.
I can't tell you how happy I am to hear your news you have a lovely friend!

@Redcherries

Don’t feel guilty! The only people who should feel shameful are those who jump the queue in a knowing underhand manner. People being contacted to save wasting vaccines is a good thing.

So a case of who you know then?

Sorry but it's wrong, no excuse for it because I guarantee she did take some one else's vaccine that needs it more.

Absolutely brilliant news, I'm so glad to hear that doses which would otherwise be wasted are put to good use. What better way than for teachers, who are at their own front line.

When you get some time, have a think about what use feeling guilty in this situation does for anyone at all.

All the best.

One more of the herd vaccinated now - it's all progress!

@Spring2021

Good for you OP, glad they didn’t go to waste.

I am CEV mid 50’s (live 5 minutes drive away from my GP) and I still haven’t even got an appointment for my vaccine yet nor has my 79 year old mum (lives 10 minutes away from her GP’s).

Feel a bit worried if this is the plan they may run out before they get to my mum and me. If teachers and whoever else are being given the nod on the sly.

Try the national link. Just Google covid vaccine and put your details in

Can I add a gentle reminder that it's another member of the herd who has had their first dose of the vaccine. I will be profoundly glad if the experiment of extending the time between the first and second dose works to get more people less likely to get seriously ill works out.

Don't feel bad. The GP was clearly trying to find people who could get there quickly.

I'm a vaccinator, I had 2 vaccines left from a mass clinic I didn't last month I was told to ring 2 people who were ideally elderly or at risk to come down within 10 minutes to have them. I couldn't think of any elderly people I knew who could move that quickly so I called my FIL - police officer and my friends husband who is also a police officer.
If I could vaccinate every teacher I knew I would!! You guys are looking after my kids so I can vaccinate and work in ICU, without teachers I wouldn't be able to do my job so well deserved in my opinion x

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz yes you are right, it happened in A&E in the hospital I work in, 50 teachers turned up over 2 days demanding the vaccine because they had received an email from the head telling them to come down. They were abusive, swear at staff and the Police were called. This made news headlines. So yes I will call them out over it. I hope who ever did your vaccine @PatsyKen is investigated because you did not fit the criteria and you should not of had it. All emergency service workers should be getting it first, and I also guarantee there will be plenty of CEV people in your area still waiting for this.

Disgusting

Better than it going in the bin. Those in the eligible can book online for a hub now, and will be contacted by the GP hub too, so plenty of chances and most areas don't have much of a wait for those in groups who can have it.

Don't feel guilty at all!

It seems like a sensible use of resources. Logisticslly you need to move fast, not be pedantic about who is strictly next in the queue.

In my area I understand the Police are being sent up at the end of each day to be given the surplus doses that would otherwise go to waste because they can be easily contacted and can get there quickly.

It’s the government who should feel guilty. I am really scared for my DH (late 40’s, underlying conditions, teaches secondary). I am hoping against hope the schools don’t go back fully until he gets a vaccine. He’s collateral damage really, no one cares as long as there’s space in the hospital.

I have really struggled with the contradiction - no ppe, no masks, no ventilation but the government keep screaming “schools are safe”. I have massive anxiety, because how can the exact conditions that lockdown prevents, be safe? I just don’t understand it.

I suspect the government are pleased we are all blaming the odd lucky person who gets a spare vaccine, rather than pointing at them and their collateral damage policy.

@dailydose

Fantastic. I'm delighted for you. I'm a vaccinator. We had one dose left the other night and gave it to the security guard. That's exactly what we need to be doing to get out of this mess.

Exactly this!! We need to just get everyone vaccinated, do not feel guilty OP

and I also guarantee there will be plenty of CEV people in your area still waiting for this.

Why don't they book an appointment then? Eligible groups, which now includes CEV can book online for a hub at the very least.

@SakuraEdenSwan1 but she didn't take it off someone who needs it more she took it either from someone who didn't turn up for theirs or out of the bin. No one is further down the queue because of this.
If what you are saying is there should be a better system for using up left overs at the end of the day then I would be more inclined to agree with you but this is not down to the OP to sort out and she hasn't taken it away from anyone else so why should she feel guilty.
Would you be happier if she had let it be wasted.

@SakuraEdenSwan1 could you link the article about the 50 teachers being abusive at A&E please? Where in the country was this?

I would have thought if there were spares to that extent they should be inviting the next priority group forward not just picking occupations to invite or at least prioritising age 50 plus from high risk jobs. There needs to be a proper system not just inviting schools that are near vaccination centres or if you have a mate that's a GP. I booked my MIL in for next week and there was an email address we could contact to be called forward in case of cancellations

Don't feel guilty, and ignore the (very much in the minority) of idiots on here berating you for it.
I suspect they massively underestimate the logistics of trying to match the exact number of prepared vaccines (which have to be used that day) to the number of people who turn up for their appointment (there will always be no shows).

Surely, if they had to turn away those due for their vaccines due to not having enough there would be outcry.
Also when vaccines go in the bin this is (rightly) criticised.

So, given how many people are vaccinated each day, it is inevitable that there will be leftovers.

Much better for these spares to go to teachers and police who are able to get there in time than go in the bin!

I'm v jealous. As a teacher I'd be off like a shot if someone offered it to me right now. I'm over 50 so in group 9 and just praying I get it before school fully goes back.

Even if 50 random teachers did rock up somewhere swearing and moaning for vaccines (cool story) I fail to see what this has to to with the op?
Unless there is a massive drip feed coming!
😂

Of course you shouldn't feel guilty, the alternative is that they would have been wasted. So this means now your another who has a vaccine.

Sorry but it's wrong, no excuse for it because I guarantee she did take some one else's vaccine that needs it more.
Well they should have turned up then. These vaccines were spare and would have been destroyed if not used.

It shouldn't be up to doctors to call their mates in. There should be a list of people in the next groups they can call. There are plenty of people in Group 6 who need it more than those without health issues.

Just so we’re clear, it’s not me who is running the vaccination programme or in government right now. 😅

Don’t feel guilty. Every person vaxxed is a step forward.

If they’d had to bin the dose that would have been much worse.