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Original poster

How busy are the mass vaccine centres and hubs?

57 replies

WombatChocolate · 20/02/2021 11:57

Just wondering about this, as lots of people are reporting that when they book, vast amounts of appointments are available.

If you’re able to say which county you’re in and if a mass centre or local vaccine hub, it would be very helpful.

I understand they are limited by supply of vaccine, but what about capacity at the centres too....busy or seemingly quiet? Thanks.

OP posts:
derekthe1adyhamster · 21/02/2021 12:26

Brighton and Hove, in the Brighton centre at 3pm on Friday. There were 3 patients in there. My friend volunteers as a steward, she was told she wasn't needed as it was so quiet

LemonTT · 21/02/2021 12:40

@WombatChocolate

Rosehip, well if you name search me, you’ll find I’ve been on MN for many years and on the Covid boards a lot this last week.....I think you’ll be quickly reassured if you look!

My Q arises from the fact I’m in Group 6 and across the threads this week, confusion reigns about how to book for this group. Some can get into the NHS site, some can get into other online booking systems that local areas use, some can’t access anything. I just wondered if those areas giving freer access to this big group, have busier centres and whether the others are very quiet as a result.....ie if the booking system itself is causing a bottle neck in some places. Realise different areas are going at different rates etc, but there do seem to be very very different experiences.

The simple answer to your question is that Gp hubs have been asked to focus on cohort 6 whilst vaccination centres do cohort 5.

It’s most likely that you will be called by the GP hub who can identify at risk patients from their records.

Finalised lists of cohort 6 are being extracted to feed the national booking system. This will allow people to book directly into vaccination centres.

There are far more people in cohort 6 than 5. There is more activity going through GP hubs. But there are 100’s of these compared with dozens of vaccination centres which are not operating anywhere near capacity.

After cohort 6 GP hubs will be doing second doses whilst vaccination centres will be doing cohort 7-9.

Original poster
WombatChocolate · 21/02/2021 12:50

LemonTT, thanks for that...very informative.

Perhaps with this new timetable to get people vaccinated even sooner, their will be a further push to boost numbers in a daily basis. Maybe moving over to Group 6 has created a bit of a bottleneck in terms of admin and quite simply identifying those people, but once done it can move apace.

It sounded like you were suggesting group 6 might be fed into the national booking system and well as via GPS which I guess just gives more options and can allow those centres to work nearer capacity.

Is it the case that they want to complete Group 6 (or close to it) before the bulk of 2nd jabs starts being needed? Do group 6 need to complete before Group 7 begins?

Thanks again....you sound like you know what’s going on.

OP posts:
Original poster
WombatChocolate · 21/02/2021 12:51

There, not their...

OP posts:
CometCupidDonnerBlitzen · 21/02/2021 13:03

Just had my first at the Elland Road hub. Was surprised at how quiet it was but I suppose they need to space appointments out. We sat in the carpark for a bit because we were early. I'd say someone came out every 10 minutes or so. When it was my turn there was one other person that came in just behind me and I didn't see see anyone else after that.

I only booked my appointment yesterday and almost all times were available.

CarlaH · 21/02/2021 13:10

This is really a hard thread to read.

I am early 60s and really would love to be vaccinated but it seems around here in South London that things aren't moving very fast.

I keep trying online but of course it just spits me out.

Hearing that vaccination centres aren't very busy really is a kick in the teeth.

My GP practice just have a message on their website saying go away and don't bother us about the vaccine we will let you know when it is your turn.

NeedWineNow · 21/02/2021 13:27

We're in West Kent. DH had his yesterday. Booked online during the week at our local pharmacy hub. I went with him in case he felt wobbly and waited outside. No queue, he went straight in and was back out inside 15 mins. He said there was one other lady in front of him and she was early for her appointment. No one else went in during the time he was in there as far as I saw. He's already booked his second one for May.

Alone97 · 21/02/2021 13:41

Had mine yesterday, was busy but was in and out in 20 mins (15 of them was having to wait after vaccine).
Staff was organised and lovely,felt safe and looked after.

bumblenbean · 21/02/2021 14:45

I’m probably being dense but I don’t understand why some centres have long queues of people - if we have an appointment time, why are people queuing? Is it because of running behind schedule etc?

Tomnooktoldmeto · 21/02/2021 15:12

Had mine on Tuesday as a group 4 CEV at local hub East Miss, in and out in about 25 mins, nurse said they are doing cira 3000 daily

LittleG69 · 21/02/2021 15:14

Site less than 2 miles away. DH went today (group 6, he was told not to wait for a letter and booked via Swift Queue). He was in and out in less than 30 mins (had to wait 15 mins afterwards as he had the AZ one and drove himself). We are in Nottingham.

Sandgrown1970 · 21/02/2021 15:17

Well, I’ve posted earlier about illegible people in my area booking via a non NHS link thats being widely shared on social media (it’s a council link). I must make it clear I am awaiting my official turn and can’t abide lying/queue jumping but for purposes of this thread, it’s been incredibly easy for the people I know abusing the link to get booked in. Every one of them has had their jab within 24 hours of clicking on the link. No ID/eligibility checks. If they are asked the general tale is “I’m a carer for my grandad etc”.

Blackpool and surrounding areas (Fleetwood, Poulton etc).

Sandgrown1970 · 21/02/2021 15:24

Oh sorry, in terms of the actual process...

People I know offered the AZ at a chemist or some surgeries where less than 15 minutes.

The people I know at Blackpool Winter Gardens were anything from an hour to almost 2 hours (also AZ) and it was apparently heaving. This was difficult for some of the elderly people I know who were stood up to queue but staff were on hand to offer assistance,
wheelchairs etc and one lady who really struggled told me she was allowed to go to the front of the queue when staff identified how badly she was struggling.

The process for people at the Victoria Hospital and some surgeries that got the Pfizer vaccine was 30/45 mins. There was a queue while ID was checked, then another to get vaccinated, then a 15 minute observation in a waiting room.

Definitely initially it was harder to get booked in at all (most carers I know and a lot of over 80/ locally didn’t get done until the end Jan) but now it’s speeding up.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 21/02/2021 15:32

Scotland. My mum (70s) had hers last week and had to wait over an hour - she thought that maybe because of the very heavy snow they were running late. A friend took her gran to the same hub this week and it was the same, but no snow. Perhaps they are over-booking expecting no-shows, but everyone is showing!

yearinyearout · 21/02/2021 15:39

I was a bit worried as the local surgery hasn't been working the last two weekends, looked like it was slowing down. However, Two of my friends in their fifties have had their appointment text today (no health conditions) so that looks promising

Wilma55 · 21/02/2021 15:42

64 year olds can book online. OH booked yesterday!

40somethingJBJ · 21/02/2021 16:07

I’m Derbyshire. Took my friends ECV husband to Derby Arena a couple of weeks ago for his jab and the queue was huge so quite a long wait. I’m group 6 and had mine last week at the same place - was in and out in 15 minutes. Really well organised and efficient.

caringcarer · 21/02/2021 16:56

My GP confirmed I am in group 6 but said they are still working on group 5 ATM. My dh is at another surgery in same town but got text last week enabling him to make appointment at vaccination centre. I will leave it until Wednesday then ring GP. On TV they said group 5 and 6 would be vaccinated at the same time but my GP receptionist said no group 5 must finish before group 6 begin.

Fruitbatdancer · 21/02/2021 17:03

I’m group 6, booked yesterday for today. Only offered mass centres so went to nearest one 30 mins away. Took an hour from joining queue to walking out. Good process but Disney style queues. I was pleased to find loads of police and border force in queue, apparently they’d been emailed to say there were spares and to get down there ASAP. Glad they’re using spare slots for these guys, wish/ hope they’re doing this for teachers too.

Fruitbatdancer · 21/02/2021 17:05

@caringcarer I was told that many group 6 can book online through NHS link now (since yesterday) but will be offered mass centres not local surgeries. They’ve also dropped age to 64. So worth checking.

caringcarer · 21/02/2021 17:32

Checked NHS booking service but just says wit until contacted by GP.

ThornAmongstRoses · 21/02/2021 17:54

My parents rang up their local Hub because they heard there were lots of vaccines and appointments going spare.

When they phoned to enquire, my dad was given an appointment for an hour later and my mom was given an appointment for 3 hours later.

starfish4 · 21/02/2021 17:55

Had mine at a large pharmacy. About three waiting constantly to be checked in and all ten seated waiting areas taken after that. My appointment was at 8.50am, so I guess could be busier if they get behind.

Abraxan · 21/02/2021 19:25

I'm group 6 W d got 'bumped' up the surgery's list last week after speaking with the, and going on their 'last minute accepted' list.
I'm now booked in for next week - looking forward to Wednesday for my first vaccine.

Not being done at the surgery or the large hub though, it's being done at a church hall about 3 miles away.

Workinghardeveryday · 21/02/2021 19:31

Mine was very busy, zero distancing and that was mainly the staff working there!!!