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Original poster

Guilt over getting vaccine

243 replies

PatsyKen · 06/02/2021 16:29

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?

OP posts:
lovelyredwine · 06/02/2021 19:42

You absolutely should not feel guilty. That vaccine dose is doing more good to society in your arm than in the bin. Good on them for trying to use up the leftover doses rather than wasting them.

PurpleDaisies · 06/02/2021 19:48

Hi Good on them for trying to use up the leftover doses rather than wasting them.*

This has been said over and over again and I just don’t get it.

What to do fairly with no show doses should have been planned for when the system was set up.

Noneedtocry · 06/02/2021 19:49

I think the OP and Dr friend probably did what was best in the circumstances to avoid wastage ... a vaccine in (any) arm is better than one in the bin. That said it does seem like there could be a better (less random) system for waitlisting for spare jabs. There are some occupations shown to be at significantly higher risk of dying from covid than the average population (security guards, bus drivers, taxi drivers etc) but I expect they are less likely to have acquaintances that are doctors.

Fwiw my folks are early 70s, very active, have car, at home all the time (obviously). They did call their GP to say they could be available at short notice for any going-to-waste jabs. Didn't come to it in the end but they have their appointments in for this Monday (to all our relief!). Point being we're at the point that the people next in the queue are likely to be pretty mobile.

TheQuaffle · 06/02/2021 19:51

I am so happy that they are not getting wasted! Good for you, it was pure luck, do not ever feel guilty! Xxxx

dingoesatemybaby · 06/02/2021 19:53

Better than going in the bin!

Ridcully82 · 06/02/2021 20:00

It's unreasonable to expect a perfect system (and no such thing as someone will else complain:like the papers calling for more local responsiveness/accountability then complaining about "postcode lottery"/not eniugh power for minsters to dictate goals) but I'm ECV,and got mine a couple of weeks ago:I'd had to speak to GP about meds in relation to jab. In the conversation I said I'm shielding,so always in,and could be in in minutes. She said her back up list would be on medical grounds,but made up of those that said they could get in. This,to me,seems a reasonable balance:she didn't call me to serif I'd be available in a hypothetical future,but as she accumulated names she would order them by need. And turned out she did have spare later that week. So,no wastage, one off the list, and no unnecessary waste of medical or support staffs time:what more do you want, jam on it?!

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 06/02/2021 20:01

@CynthiaRothrock

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 🤷‍♀️
STOP

You're exactly the sort of person who should be getting 'spare' doses.

@PatsyKen. Please don't feel guilty. It was spare & would have been wasted, you didn't take anyone's else's dose! And as others have said, you've had yours now & don't need your scheduled dose do it can go to someone else. I'm disgusted it's being wasted at other sites.

There are some faults in the system, but it's a MASSIVE roll out, it's inevitable really. I think the centres should take names & numbers of people who could get to the surgery quickly, but it's more paperwork, more man hours etc. And we don't want to hold up the roll out, just to be sure of getting everyone in the exact order )and I say that as a pedantic, perfectionist, accountant 😃🤣).

Plus one more of the herd!! ✅

DreamingofGinoclock · 06/02/2021 20:21

@PurpleDaisies

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.

No I'm not uncomfortable with this as many others have said I would much rather the vaccines go in an arm than in the bin.

And people saying there should be a list of people in the next group to call that can get their quickly ...by the time such list is put together (wasting resources that could be used to book appointments) those people probably would all ready have an appointment booked.

Soon the priority of people getting vaccinated will be the group my parents fall into (due to age) I cannot wait for them to get it. Does this mean I'm going to throw a hissy fit if someone gets the vaccine before their 'turn' due to spares? No I will recognise the fact that that vaccine has been put to good use taking us one step further to everyone that can/wants to be being vaccinated. I also realise that had said person not accepted it would not mean someone whose 'turn' would get it; it would mean it will go in the bin!

MagmaQuest · 06/02/2021 20:22

If anyone thinks anyone is taking the pee, take a look at this Canadian couple. OP absolutely do not feel guilty.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/canadian-couple-vaccine-face-prison-b1794838.html%3famp

Frazzled6 · 06/02/2021 20:45

I'm not sure why the Op has posted other than to agrivate people that are waiting their turn who are higher on the list.

DareIask · 06/02/2021 20:52

@Frazzled6

I'm not sure why the Op has posted other than to agrivate people that are waiting their turn who are higher on the list.
Agree

Her self confessed guilt indicates she knows it wrong.

I'm not sure I blame her though, more her doctor friends

BlueThistles · 06/02/2021 21:22

If your feeling guilty.. then why would you tell anyone you had received it then ? I'm baffled.. Confused

Pixxie7 · 06/02/2021 21:23

Sorry I have to disagree with anyone having the vaccine over others unless clinically vulnerable I am sure there were a lot of other patients older than you they could have contacted. It is unlikely it would have gone in the bin. This was a similar situation with a Barts hospital, why should teachers take priority over other key workers?

DittyPL · 06/02/2021 21:28

People in the eligible groups can book, it's better than it going in the bin.

DareIask · 06/02/2021 21:42

@DittyPL

People in the eligible groups can book, it's better than it going in the bin.
I don't think it's a question of the whether the eligible are getting it, or it not being wasted.

It's more it's that the OP has been 'chosen' as a 'friend' and not someone who is a priority, but lucky enough to have a doctor friend.

PuzzledObserver · 06/02/2021 23:12

She can probably- still catch it and pass it on though. The vaccine is to minimise serious illness arising from covid which she is incredibly unlikely to have that young

Uh, no, she probably can’t. 67% reduction in the number of positive swabs from 3 weeks after the AZ vaccine. And if you haven’t got the virus in your nose and throat, you can’t pass it on.

Molly333 · 06/02/2021 23:58

I do have a problem with this as I've heard over the last few weeks people getting called to use the vaccines left up , so what happened to the priority list ? Why are those people not being called in , those most at risk not choices made by people who know people . It is wrong totally

IsitSummeryet21 · 07/02/2021 00:08

Better than it going to waste. Go for it.

dottiedaisee · 07/02/2021 00:12

Definitely do not give it a second thought. The more people who are vaccinated the sooner we can get on with our lives!!

Twistered · 07/02/2021 00:53

Well done OP. That's you doing your bit to get us back to normality. . Im so glad you took it. It would've went in the bin otherwise. You've nothing to feel guilty about x

AquaFairySoul · 07/02/2021 00:56

No guilt. You're overthinking it.

LalalalalalaLand123 · 07/02/2021 00:56

You did the right thing, please don't feel guilty in the slightest!

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 07/02/2021 00:58

If you hadn't have been able to use up the 'spare' doses, they wouldn't have gone to someone higher on the priority list, they'd have gone to someone else on the "deserving spare" list or been binned.
Take the hair shirt off.

BlueThistles · 07/02/2021 01:10

what are these 'Spare Doses' Confused

bruffin · 07/02/2021 01:55

@BlueThistles

what are these 'Spare Doses' Confused
The vaccine comes in 6 or 8 dose bottles. If all the doses are not used within a certain time the go to waste,