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Covid

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Original poster

Why do I have to travel 20 miles?

34 replies

loveyoutothemoon · 09/02/2021 13:37

Lots of people I know have had their Covid vaccination in the town in which we live but mine has been requested miles away.

I can't find anything on Google to help and you're not supposed to mither your GP practise or local hospital.

Could it be because the NHS have recognised me as being vulnerable and/or because I get a rash from penicilllin and this is where I'll get the correct type?

OP posts:

Lurkingforawhile · 09/02/2021 13:38

How did you book? It partly depends if you book through the central system. If you received a letter from the NHS I think you can wait for a more local apt

Eleoura · 09/02/2021 13:41

No idea. PIL had similar. FIL is CEV- got letter and booked at a hospital 20miles away. Next day, MIL gets her letter to have vaccine at the GP 5min up the road. Both are at the exact same GP practice!

Original poster

loveyoutothemoon · 09/02/2021 13:47

Thanks.
I received an email with a link. It's at a hospital - I rang and checked with them that it was all above board.

OP posts:

Flossie44 · 09/02/2021 14:06

I think it depends on you as an individual and your needs in terms of actual vaccine. You may need one or the other, and that one happens to be 20 miles away. Whereas the other vaccine would be the one being administered locally

CoffeeRunner · 09/02/2021 14:10

You don’t is the short answer. But you will be vaccinated more quickly.

EVERYONE will be contacted by their GP to be offered a local appointment as & when they are able to offer you a vaccine.

In addition to this NHS England is also sending out letters inviting you to make an appointment at a regional centre. This is to speed up the delivery of the vaccine & to give people an option to waiting for the GP to get in touch.

Original poster

loveyoutothemoon · 09/02/2021 14:10

@Flossie44 that's helpful, thank you!

I'm happy to get the jab wherever really but if that's the reason then I'm chuffed.

OP posts:

CoffeeRunner · 09/02/2021 14:11

It’s nothing to do with the specific vaccine BTW.

TheLaughingGenome · 09/02/2021 14:14

I went on the NHS website central booking page, and chose the nearest pharmacy to me offering it - down the road, basically.

I guess you could ring 119 and try to rearrange?

JustanotherTuesday · 09/02/2021 14:14

I'm allergic to penicillin also, has anything been mentioned about that ? I've not heard anything.

Flossie44 · 09/02/2021 14:15

Coffee - ah ok. I was just giving my experience of two people I know in the same village. One went locally. The other couldn’t have that vaccine for health reasons so had to travel a lot further to get the other vaccine.

CoffeeRunner · 09/02/2021 14:17

@TheLaughingGenome

I went on the NHS website central booking page, and chose the nearest pharmacy to me offering it - down the road, basically.

I guess you could ring 119 and try to rearrange?

That does depend where you live though. The closest location to us bookable via 119 or with an NHS letter is currently 11 miles away.

Boulshired · 09/02/2021 14:19

Where I am there is just not enough space for the amount of people so they have to do a certain percentage at city hubs over 20 minutes drive away. It’s why compared to other parts we are behind in the over 70s and CEV as many can’t or no not want to travel that distance. It will probably be better when they get to the more mobile groups. There is still some concern that whilst they might get all the over 70s appointments, they might not get them all done within the hoped time.

CoffeeRunner · 09/02/2021 14:22

@Flossie44

I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, just it’s not usual. At our vaccination centre we get Pfizer one week, then AZ, then maybe AZ again. Then back to Pfizer. Whatever we’re sent basically. For most people, if your GP hasn’t got the right vaccine in this week they will have it within a couple of weeks & will just ask you to wait rather than send you elsewhere.

No idea how other centres are working it though.

LIZS · 09/02/2021 14:23

That may be the area hub but if you wait or call to book you may be offered a local one.

CoffeeRunner · 09/02/2021 14:23

@JustanotherTuesday

I'm allergic to penicillin also, has anything been mentioned about that ? I've not heard anything.

Not a problem unless penicillin gives you an anaphylactic shock. In which case, take medical advice before you book a vaccine.

Babdoc · 09/02/2021 14:24

I had to cancel mine. I was phoned out of the blue last night and given an appointment today in a city centre concert hall 12 miles away. Through a blizzard. With no parking within a third of a mile of it. I woke up with the car snowed in on the driveway, so after six attempts over two hours to get through on their phone line, I’m rebooked for later this week and praying the snow melts!

Keratinsmooth · 09/02/2021 14:27

Speak to your GP, my mum had the same situation and got a booking in 5 miles not 30 miles as suggested.

murbblurb · 09/02/2021 14:28

you don't. This is a big problem in our area with the NHS system offering slots 2 hours drive away.

wait until you hear from your GP who will have the local availability.

MrsPnut · 09/02/2021 14:29

I had mine last week and had been advised not to have the Pfizer vaccine due to a previous reaction to medication.

You won't know until you turn up which vaccine they are using on the day, I had my appointment at the village GP surgery and they were using Pfizer but had some AZ in the fridge that they used to vaccinate me. If they had not had that then I would have had to rebook and take a chance again.
Bigger centres may have both types especially if they are using Pfizer to vaccinate on the day.

LemonTT · 09/02/2021 14:30

[quote loveyoutothemoon]@Flossie44 that's helpful, thank you!

I'm happy to get the jab wherever really but if that's the reason then I'm chuffed.[/quote]
Please check the invite. It sounds like it came from a hospital. Some people need to be done in hospital because of their medical history. They cannot be done at vaccination sites (even if you book, queue and sign in you will be told to wait for hospital appointment offer).

Sadly if this is the case it is the safe option for you. Most people will be called by both their GP practice and are able to use the national booking system. These two systems run together as a belt and braces. But they are not suitable for everyone. Some CEVs need to done in hospital.

Ch3rish · 09/02/2021 14:30

From what I've read and heard you don't have to travel you are offered an appointment, if it's not convienent for any reason then you decline it and wait for one that is.

Lurkingforawhile · 09/02/2021 15:01

@babdoc that's frustrating but good they could book you back in quickly. I feel so grateful to have been able to walk to mine. Even though it was freezing there was no snow!

ifonly4 · 09/02/2021 15:08

OP, I haven't been anywhere for 3.5 months other than our village and work three miles away. I had to travel 13 miles away to our nearest city (rather than in our local town) for mine and made the most of every second of different scenery - I really enjoyed my trip out - hope it goes ok.

Original poster

loveyoutothemoon · 09/02/2021 15:21

Thanks everyone!
@ifonly4 Oh good for you. Is that because you had to have a specific one?

OP posts:

Original poster

loveyoutothemoon · 09/02/2021 17:12

So if the reason isn't because of vaccine type, because it's a big general hospital they'll likely have both in anyway?!

OP posts:

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