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Original poster

Eligible on website - is a letter on the way?

35 replies

Summerflowers209 · 21/02/2021 19:09

Hi my dad is 63 and I decided to put his details in the NHS book vaccine website and it allowed me to proceed and pick a date and time and location for the booking. When I tried with my mum (60) it said she is not eligible to book through the service. However, my dad has refused to book saying he needs to wait for his letter and not skip the queue. As the website allows him to book, does that mean a letter is on its way to him?

OP posts:
Mayvis · 21/02/2021 19:11

If the website says he is eligible, then he is and should book if he wants to be vaccinated.

No need to wait for a letter.

Original poster
Summerflowers209 · 21/02/2021 19:12

I know this but he refuses to accept that. So is a letter on the way?

OP posts:
hennybeans · 21/02/2021 19:13

Yes, if he can book on the website he should. Hopefully your dm will be allowed soon as well.

Chasingsquirrels · 21/02/2021 19:14

My dads letter came through about 4 days after he was able to book.
He said the same but I convinced him that he'd only be allowed to book if the letter had been issued, the fact that it was therefore in transit was no reason not to book.
Hopefully your dad's will turn up soon.

Iveputmyselfonthenaughtystep · 21/02/2021 19:14

Yes. A letter will be on the way but goodness knows when it will arrive. The amount of admin required to process when he could just get on with it and speed things up for himself and everybody else. Would this get through to him? He's not jumping the queue, but speeding things along for those behind him

hennybeans · 21/02/2021 19:15

I think a letter will be on the way, but also the website no longer says you need to wait for a letter. Just that if you meet the current criteria you can book online.

Chasingsquirrels · 21/02/2021 19:16

@Chasingsquirrels

My dads letter came through about 4 days after he was able to book. He said the same but I convinced him that he'd only be allowed to book if the letter had been issued, the fact that it was therefore in transit was no reason not to book. Hopefully your dad's will turn up soon.
Actually my dad was in an older age group. I just assumed they are still using letters...
Kitkat151 · 21/02/2021 19:18

DM had her vaccine 2 weeks ago.....still no letter has arrived....l he should just go ahead

mummabear74 · 21/02/2021 19:25

Just tried to book for grandad who is in early sixties but the website states:

You can only use this service if any of the following apply:
• you are aged 65 and over
• you have previously received a letter saying you are at high risk from coronaviruss_ (clinically extremely vulnerable)
• you are an eligible frontline health worker
• you are an eligible frontline social care worker

Mindymomo · 21/02/2021 19:27

I wouldn’t wait for a letter, because not everyone is getting one. My husband got a text. I tried booking for my husband, but it kept coming back that he wasn’t eligible, so your father is eligible if it lets you book. I personally don’t know anyone who has received a letter. I think they were only sent to the elderly at the beginning of the vaccination process.

needadvice54321 · 21/02/2021 19:41

I was told a week ago I was in group 6 but haven't received a letter, I'm not sure if I should just book online?

GingerBiscuit21 · 21/02/2021 19:46

If you can book through the site your letter has been written it just hasn't arrived with you yet. Go ahead and book - you're not skipping any queue. It will book you into one of the mass vaccination centres, which is where you should be going if you can, leaving local services like GP surgeries for those who are not mobile / vulnerable / unable to get to the big centres.

If you can't book on the site it's because you don't yet qualify.

GingerBiscuit21 · 21/02/2021 19:46

@needadvice54321

I was told a week ago I was in group 6 but haven't received a letter, I'm not sure if I should just book online?
If the site lets you book when you put your info in, book.
Roussette · 21/02/2021 19:52

Don't wait for the letter, just book!

My DH never even got one, he got a text. I got a phone call.

Your Dad might never get a letter at all.

serialgrannie · 21/02/2021 19:54

If you are able to book on the website, then you should do so. We did this three weeks ago after a friend told us to try it. It worked for us (early 70s), but not for those in their sixties, even though at that time the website said not to book unless you had a letter. Our letter was in the system and came through 7 days after we had had our jabs, and we had several texts from GP also. Surgery was pleased we had gone ahead to a mass centre as it enabled them to offer appointments to patients further down the list and possibly unable to travel far.

NeedWineNow · 21/02/2021 19:58

We saw on our village FB page that over 65's could book online so DH booked his the following morning. That same afternoon our GP surgery telephoned to see if he had booked, and the following day his letter came.

LemonTT · 21/02/2021 20:01

If his letter is late then other letters will be late. This happens and is compounded by postal delays.

This means the centre may be underused. It’s better to book and use the available slots. It’s better for him to have it ASAP. It’s better for use of vaccine, staff time and the queue movement.

sashagabadon · 21/02/2021 20:01

Go ahead and book for your dad

ThePricklySheep · 21/02/2021 20:02

@Kitkat151

DM had her vaccine 2 weeks ago.....still no letter has arrived....l he should just go ahead
Surely she won’t get a letter, because she’s had the vaccination?
Roussette · 21/02/2021 20:08

The only drawback is.... if you have your first one via the Doctor (they rang me and offered me an appointment at small hospital near us)... you can't then go online and book your second.

My DH had a text, followed the link and after he got his first, he went online and booked his second.

But this might be to do with the fact he had got AZ and I got Pfizer.... and there is not so much Pfizer around which might be why I have to wait to hear for 2nd jab

Tempusfudgeit · 21/02/2021 20:14

I got a text from my GP's surgery with a link to the booking website. No letters involved.

needadvice54321 · 21/02/2021 20:20

Thanks @GingerBiscuit21 , I've had a look and only over 65's, CEV and certain workers can book so I'll hold fire!

Kitkat151 · 21/02/2021 21:50

@ThePricklySheep She had been told 2 days prior that a letter had been sent and to wait for it ( so if she had waited for it, she would still be unvaccinated 🙄)

Fruitbatdancer · 21/02/2021 23:39

So from various other threads and asking staff today (I got mine today) on Saturday they lowered age to 64 online and added many of group 6 (me) we defo couldn’t book Friday but could sat. This morning they said on news they lowered to 64, my guess it’s now gone to 63.
Defo ok to book they just haven’t update front page. Nurse today said the online site often 2 weeks before letter as that’s how long GP taking to distribute. Is likely mostly large vaccine sites available online too so wait for GP and letter if can’t travel.

Didkdt · 22/02/2021 02:41

If he can book he should book. I’m ECV my priority group came in just over 3 weeks ago spoke to GO practically 2.5 weeks ago was booked in (delay due to allergies) my letter arrived last Friday by then my area was dusting off the over 65s