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?

And there’ll always be someone more ‘worthy’.

It’s not necessarily a good use of resources to prioritise hunting that person down.

Very glad to see a vaccine be put to good use rather than wasted. Another CEV who is awaiting their appointment here. And since you’re an on-site teacher, you’re vital to families like mine where my SEN child is having real difficulty being at home, and people like you are a lifeline, bringing a little bit of normality and comfort to said child and her sibling. We’d have an awful time if a bubble closed at either school, so I’m happy for you and your student population that you’re vaccinated.

I'm glad to see jabs getting used rather than thrown away. Don't feel guilty.

Well you have jumped the queue technically but better than it going to waste.

@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.

👍

Is that true about the Met? It's astonishing how the police treat their own.

We need everyone vaccinated to make this go away/let us get on with it.

It doesn't matter if you've "jumped the queue" and anyone who says that or even tried to get angry about that needs to do one.

Yes it makes sense vaccinating the elderly/vulnerable, but ultimately we need everyone vaccinated so there is absolutely no excuse for anyone being angry about it and it's quite frankly disgusting if anyone had a problem with this!!

Are people really not uncomfortable that the people with no doctor friends are being pushed behind those who do in terms of vaccine priority?

This feels like another level of social advantage for the middle class.

Great news OP! Don't feel guilty. I agree with those who say it's better in an arm than in the bin.

In my practice we are going through the lists in order and calling extras in that way. Not usually DNAs but the fact we book in batches of 11(number of doses in vial) and yesterday both my vials gave me 12 so 2 extra doses. We are doing 75-79 and CEV just now and plenty still to call. At the hubs it's probably difficult to find the lists and contact details. So sensible to do anyone.

Everyone deserves them equally and by you having yours you are helping get this virus under control. You have not queue jumped.

Much, much better than it going in the bin Op.

We booked MIL appt for a week on wed and were given the option to email her number in case of last minute appointments. Surely all the vaccine centres could have a similar set up so the doses are not wasted but people in currently eligible groups are done earlier. That would get everyone done earlier but fairly.

I really don’t u see stand why centres don’t have reserve lists to call which follow the jcvi ordering

*understand

More poor management by the Met

Dn is really unhappy as they often have to deal with the bodies of people who have died of Covid, as it is they are got covid in the new year and are still not well

I am torn about this as I definitely don't want to see vaccines wasted however I think vaccine centres and GP surgeries should have a better system. They know there will be a few spares most days so why not have a call list from the next priority group. I don't think they should be ringing people they know or asking people passing in the street or whatever. There should be a fair system with a list of people to call in the event of spares.

@stressbucket1 that's so hard to administer though, yes you could phone off of a list, but then it means cancelling that person's later app, and hoping someone sees the slot then become available, or phoning through to someone else. If we had a shortage of vaccines or a concern for supply then absolutely, but as that's not the case it actually ultimately slows things now, and creates extra admin work that could be used elsewhere in the effort.

@bruffin

More poor management by the Met

Dn is really unhappy as they often have to deal with the bodies of people who have died of Covid, as it is they are got covid in the new year and are still not well

I actually think that, because of the job they do and the type of people they often deal with, the police should have been in one of the top priority groups, if not the top.

I hope DN is feeling better soon

Don't feel guilty.
A friend of mine who is a GP was telling me that he has had quite a lot of people not turning up for their vaccinations and once the vials have been defrosted there is quite a small window of opportunity to use them. So he and his colleagues have been doing exactly the same - calling people who are currently lower priority so that the drug isn't wasted. He said that it's tended to be younger people who have come for the "left overs" as although they do try to call elderly and vulnerable people who are still waiting for appointments they often can't get to the surgery on time as they need help with transport etc.
I don't think anyone in their right minds would think it is better to throw it away than to give it to someone, and most people will surely agree that teachers who are going to be mixing with large numbers of children should be treated as a priority anyway. Remember you are not just protecting yourself - the more people who are vaccinated the better for us all.

Both my husband and I were offered spare vaccines this week. Him because he's volunteering at a vaccine centre and even because there were spares when I went to pick him up from work one evening. Neither of us feel guilty. He's doing a vital bit of service to his community and me because I'm currently doing virtual consultations with patients (for the first time in years working as a proper doctor!). My dad has been done and so have my in laws. We just see it as another few people ticked off and, of course, better in an arm than a bin.

The most important thing is that vaccines aren't wasted. No issues at all OP and don't feel guilty!

Teachers should have them

Dnt feel guilty op
Well done for getting it done.

Absolutely do not feel guilty! They would have gone to waste otherwise which is incomprehensible. I’m really pleased to hear GP surgeries are doing this!

I'm in the same boat. Just had it today but feel so guilty. I took my mum (I'm her carer) who is on the ex. Vulnerable list. We were the last ones in, they had one left over and they said i could have it. I work in a school which is at full capacity for key/vulnerable children and am so paranoid about being at work and the risk it can pose to my mum if she caught it. I know it would have been wasted (i asked if all of the volunteers/staff had had theirs and they said yes) but i still feel guilty for jumping the queue 🤷‍♀️