Saving vaccine doses being thrown away

[bibbidybobbidyboo]

Heard from my friend today (31, perfectly healthy, not a key worker) that she got vaccinated this evening. She had left her details with a local pharmacy as last minute back up recipient, in case any of the booked in appointments cancelled - apparently once the pharmacy has taken a batch out of the fridge they need to use them or throw them away. Pharmacy called her 15 mins before closing to say there were some spares going and she popped straight in.

Sharing because it seems worth doing if you live close by to a pharmacy and are able to go in quickly at late notice! I'm surprised the government hasn't publicised this actually, there must be a lot of people in cities would be able to get to a centre quickly at short notice and it seems like it would be a really good way to minimise wastage/ speed the process up.

I suspect if they did publicise it pharmacies would be inundated with people wanting leftovers 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yes you're probably right, that seems to be the thinking with GP surgeries too. It makes sense, it's just such a shame that doses are getting thrown away!

All pharmacies? Surely they’re not all vaccinating? I don’t think ours is, just the hospital.

@Ahmnotacat no not all pharmacies, I think it's just some big ones that are doing it

They're not being thrown away - ffs

I'd love to join such a waiting list but none of my local area pharmacies are currently vaccinating. My GP surgery has asked people not to contact them about vaccination related matters until invited, either.

There's lots of strategies they use to make sure doses are used up - ringing round, contacting police/fire service, knabbing people who've brought others along etc. They don't just chuck them unless they're really really stuck.

Sorry OP, it's just so bloody frustrating to be told we're throwing doses away. We are doing everything we possibly can not to. We haven't as yet but it's a much harder logistical exercise than people seem to think.
And everyone's an expert don't you know

We never throw any away 😡😡😡

@DinosaurDiana

We never throw any away 😡😡😡

Oh really !! This is good x

Sorry, I suppose that should read that where I work we never throw any away.
My apologies

Us too @DinosaurDiana - not one wasted.

But everyone is so keen to think the worst of us. Never mind the incredible amount of organisation, planning and replanning at a moments notice, the staffing and the contacting of patients (who never answer their phone!). The near constant pressure to react to unpredictable delivery schedules on top of the pressure rod the last 11months. My staff who are on their knees still saying yes instead of no to whatever I have to ask of them.
But yes - it's easier to think we're wasting vaccine and Joe Soap can save the day and prove how shite we are.

Sorry - it's been a long day and I'm cross, frustrated and very tired!

@TheRealMrsJamieFraser I don't know if this will come across as a bit annoying or positive, but I'm in absolute absolute awe at the vaccine roll out and management, and the work everyone involved is doing. I'd been struggling last few weeks so now always say things I'm grateful for before I go to sleep (I know, I know ) and the vaccine rollout is always on the list. Thank you

Sorry everyone, I didn't mean for a minute to imply people aren't working hard or doing an amazing job. I just meant to share the story because it wasn't something I knew about and I thought it might help. Thanks for everything everyone is doing, I'm in awe of you all.

My brother is in the police. Apparently the vaccination centre calls the control room towards the end of a session and says they have so many doses left, get people over within the hour, and they send that many officers over. It sounds ideal to me. I just hope that my brother gets lucky soon but I'm glad some of his colleagues have been jabbed.

No @bibbidybobbidyboo I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be a bitchy cow.
Your post was informative and a good thing 
@AlexandraEiffel your post made me cry, thank you for your kind words.

We do know we're part of something epic and historic and hopefully life changing for everyone. I know my team is so glad to be doing what we're doing.

@TheRealMrsJamieFraser

Us too *@DinosaurDiana* - not one wasted.

But everyone is so keen to think the worst of us. Never mind the incredible amount of organisation, planning and replanning at a moments notice, the staffing and the contacting of patients (who never answer their phone!). The near constant pressure to react to unpredictable delivery schedules on top of the pressure rod the last 11months. My staff who are on their knees still saying yes instead of no to whatever I have to ask of them.
But yes - it's easier to think we're wasting vaccine and Joe Soap can save the day and prove how shite we are.

Sorry - it's been a long day and I'm cross, frustrated and very tired!

Please don't apologise. Thank you so much for all you do.

Our council has a list of people, but they're keyworkers. My brother works near somewhere and gets emails through his work if there are any spare

Two of our local Dr's offices put up messages on Facebook asking people to call if they want a vaccination when they get to the end of the day and have leftovers and they don't want to waste any. They've also been asking people who are bringing in people with appointments if they want a dose that will go to waste.
Very sensible way of doing it.

Original poster thanks for the tip! I am going to see if my large doctors clinic and go to pharmacy has any stand by list. Can't wait and thanks all you anti vaxxers as can't waste any potentially life saving limited supply vaccines!

@TheRealMrsJamieFraser

Us too *@DinosaurDiana* - not one wasted.

But everyone is so keen to think the worst of us. Never mind the incredible amount of organisation, planning and replanning at a moments notice, the staffing and the contacting of patients (who never answer their phone!). The near constant pressure to react to unpredictable delivery schedules on top of the pressure rod the last 11months. My staff who are on their knees still saying yes instead of no to whatever I have to ask of them.
But yes - it's easier to think we're wasting vaccine and Joe Soap can save the day and prove how shite we are.

Sorry - it's been a long day and I'm cross, frustrated and very tired!

Thanks for writing your experience. Some people seem to sit around waiting to criticise. And can I also point out that the person giving you your vaccination might be a volunteer and might not be getting paid. Yes that’s right, like me. I am doing this out of the goodness of my heart to help get this country back on its feet.

To EVERYONE involved in the vaccination process :-

THANK YOU.

You're all absolute stars.