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Original poster

Had my invite, but how can I find out in advance which jab I'll be getting?

268 replies

PerspicaciousGreen · 22/02/2021 13:14

I got one of the new shielding letters last week moving me into group six for vaccines, and had my invite today. I've been offered a choice of two centres: one place a short walk away, one absolutely miles and miles away. Plenty of appointments next week, but no information other than an appointment time to select and an address.

I will only accept certain vaccines due to religious reasons, so I would like to find out what vaccine they are distributing at each centre before I book an appointment. The close one is an ex youth centre and I googled their phone number but no one answered - presumably because the office is closed.

I don't want to waste an appointment by booking and then having to find out it's the wrong one when I get there. I suppose I could walk past it and drop in, but that seems like madness covid-wise.

WWYD?

OP posts:
CushionMountain · 22/02/2021 15:18

I think that anyone that wants to choose which vaccine the get should wait until everyone else is done. Being put into group 6 because of GD has been accepted as an error with the algorithm, it was not supposed to happen.
I too received a shielding letter this week and was contacted about my vaccine but I knew that it was because of my last recorded BMI at my GP. I could easily just have accepted it but my conscience wouldn't let me and I told them that I'd lost a lot of weight so I was no longer eligible.
I'm a Childminder and along with other Early Years workers being told that we're not priority so to hear of people like you wasting appointments for reasons like this is making me very angry.

Ch3rish · 22/02/2021 15:18

@Redburnett

I have never seen any reference anywhere to people being given a choice of vaccine.
I read a thread recently where a poster was given a choice, not as in you turn up and make a selection on the day but at the booking stage where you could choose which appointment to make based on what was being offered at the centre so I believe you can choose in that way
UrAWizHarry · 22/02/2021 15:20

@PerspicaciousGreen

Thanks to those who have let me know that some centres do know in advance and some don't. I've sent an email to the GP group who are organising it. If they don't reply/don't know, I guess it's probably better for me to decline the vaccines altogether for the moment as I agree it would be a shame to waste a dose/appointment that someone else would have wanted.
Well done on wasting the centres time at best and being a complete idiot at worst.

Just take the vaccine.

Original poster
PerspicaciousGreen · 22/02/2021 15:21

@BettysButtons Well... no, I'm not. People here haven't changed my mind about my deeply held beliefs by calling me selfish, hypocritical, etc, and I don't think that anyone who addresses me in that way is actually interested in hearing what I have to say. Or, to be frank, in engaging in a two-way discussion rather than just expressing their own thoughts on the matter in an emotive manner.

Do feel free to PM me if I'm wrong and you have some specific things you'd like to discuss with me. It might take me a little while to get back to you, though, as it's a complex issue. I've already sent a PM to one poster who I think is really genuinely interested and not just looking for a vent for their spleen.

The link someone else shared upthread is a very good summary of official Catholic teaching on vaccines, so I don't think I can really do better than that. I'm not sure what else there is for me to say on the subject? So I thought I'd just leave all that and stick to what I originally made the thread about.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 22/02/2021 15:23

Both Pope Benedict and Francis have had it, as has the cardinal and every priest and bishop that I know. The church is is strongly advising us to have it.

IthinkIm · 22/02/2021 15:29

My parents are devout catholics and had the AZ.

They listened to the Pope as he's the top of the tree and what he says goes.

edgeofsuburbia · 22/02/2021 15:30

The booking link may have an email address for queries or needing to change appointments etc. Or google the email address for your PCN for your town.

RampantIvy · 22/02/2021 15:40

Is there an option of taking someone with you who could have your jab if you refuse it?

I must admit, I can't imagine having such strong religious beliefes as to pass up the opportunity of a life saving vaccination.

Nanny0gg · 22/02/2021 15:40

@PerspicaciousGreen

Thanks to those who have let me know that some centres do know in advance and some don't. I've sent an email to the GP group who are organising it. If they don't reply/don't know, I guess it's probably better for me to decline the vaccines altogether for the moment as I agree it would be a shame to waste a dose/appointment that someone else would have wanted.
Somewhat more than just a 'shame'...
NancyPickford · 22/02/2021 15:42

OP is a heretic! The Pope is infallible according to the doctrines of the Catholic Church.

AradiaGC · 22/02/2021 15:42

Everyone has the right to choose which vaccines they have or don't have. Most people right now would be happy with any, which is good - they're the ones who will turn up and get what they're given.

Those of us who do have reasons do want (or reject) a particular vaccine also have that right, whether or not the reason is 'valid' to anyone else. Right now that means waiting, though, and possibly paying privately when the opportunity arises. Once all the 'I don't care what I get' people have been vaccinated, if more uptake is needed, it makes perfect sense to offer a choice.

Nanny0gg · 22/02/2021 15:42

[quote PerspicaciousGreen]@BettysButtons Well... no, I'm not. People here haven't changed my mind about my deeply held beliefs by calling me selfish, hypocritical, etc, and I don't think that anyone who addresses me in that way is actually interested in hearing what I have to say. Or, to be frank, in engaging in a two-way discussion rather than just expressing their own thoughts on the matter in an emotive manner.

Do feel free to PM me if I'm wrong and you have some specific things you'd like to discuss with me. It might take me a little while to get back to you, though, as it's a complex issue. I've already sent a PM to one poster who I think is really genuinely interested and not just looking for a vent for their spleen.

The link someone else shared upthread is a very good summary of official Catholic teaching on vaccines, so I don't think I can really do better than that. I'm not sure what else there is for me to say on the subject? So I thought I'd just leave all that and stick to what I originally made the thread about.[/quote]
There is no 'two way dialogue' on this sort of issue.

There's not a cat in hell's chance that either side will change their thinking.

And to be fair, there is absolutely nothing you could say that would convince a non-Catholic/religious that you're right.

Pootle40 · 22/02/2021 15:46

dare I say......for god's sake Confused

RubyandPearl · 22/02/2021 15:50

Get it on your arm and get over yourself. Unless you love your maker so much you're keen on meeting him sooner rather than later.

Either way hes unlikely to get the hump because they vaccine you had to potentially save your life and others' had the wrong ingredient in.

TalbotAMan · 22/02/2021 15:57

OP

I fully understand your position.

I think my resolution would have two aspects:

First, if I were to be murdered in a way which allowed my cells or organs to be kept alive for the benefit of others through transplant or research, would I object to that happening simply on the ground that I had been murdered? I think that I would not object; I would regard it as important that I should aid others regardless of the way in which i met my death. The guilt of my murderers should fall on them, not on those who had no part in it.

Second, I have dependents and were I to die in the near future, it would cause significant damage to their well-being. My duty to them requires that I take all reasonable steps to avoid dying unnecessarily.

SerendipityJane · 22/02/2021 16:13

@NancyPickford

OP is a heretic! The Pope is infallible according to the doctrines of the Catholic Church.
Only when speaking ex cathedra I believe
BettysButtons · 22/02/2021 16:15

For anyone interested, this is an interesting summary:

The Church distinguishes between the present unethical sourcing of vaccines and the use of historical cell-lines which were derived from aborted foetuses in the 1970s. Human society has often benefitted from the wrongs done in the past for which we must repent. We live with the benefits of very questionable medical experimentation. For example, Edward Jenner, who invented vaccination, conducted research by injecting an 8 year old boy with cowpox followed by smallpox. While today such experimentation would be unethical by any standards, we wouldn’t deny life-saving vaccination because of its dubious historic provenance.

We support the Pontifical Academy for Life’s belief that ‘all clinically recommended vaccinations can be used with a clear conscience and that the use of such vaccines does not signify some sort of cooperation with voluntary abortion.

www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/catholic-position-on-vaccination-110820.pdf

NearlyAlwaysInsane · 22/02/2021 16:41

@SerendipityJane indeed that is true, but is often misunderstood, sad to see it still used in a way that smacks of prejudice

@BettysButtons thanks for the link!

Bluetrews25 · 22/02/2021 16:46

Somehow this very old 'joke' springs to mind -

Gentleman living on a flood plain, water rising.
Police officer calls round to suggest he evacuates.
'Oh no, God will save me'
A few hours later, waters have risen considerably and are thigh-high.
Fire and rescue call around in a boat to take him away.
'Oh no, God will save me'
A few hours later, waters are even higher, and the gentleman is clinging onto the tree in the garden.
RAF helicopter then comes by and offers to air lift him out.
'Oh no, God will save me'
A while later, the man sadly drowns. When he arrives at Heaven, he asks God why he did not save him.
'You idiot, who do you think sent the Police, the Fire Brigade and the RAF?'

OP, covid is the flood. 'God' has sent the vaccines, all of them. Are you going to risk drowning and pulling others down with you?

SerendipityJane · 22/02/2021 16:48

@SerendipityJane indeed that is true, but is often misunderstood, sad to see it still used in a way that smacks of prejudice

I have very little time for any religion, but would start with Catholicism before I moved on to others ... however you can't dislike something unless you understand and research it, can you ? Otherwise you're an idiot. Something I try (with rare success usually) to avoid.

NearlyAlwaysInsane · 22/02/2021 16:49

@Bluetrews25 would you say the same to a Muslism who did not want to take the vaccine if it had pork in it?

BlueThistles · 22/02/2021 16:49

Cancel the appt...

its not worth the risk of someone else missing the appt to be vaccinated ... due to OP refusing on religious grounds in the day 🌺

MacDuffsMuff · 22/02/2021 16:55

There seems to be a lot of conflicting information being given on here. It may be prudent to remember that different areas may have different vaccinations available on certain days.

My sister runs one of the bigger centres (not in England) and they have both vaccines available on different days - you do not, however, go in and tell them what vaccine you want - you take what you are given. Initially it was all the Pfizer jab (which I believe is difficult to store and a pain in the arse to draw up) but they are having more and more AZ now. I had mine in a large centre in England and had the AZ jab. If someone is unable to have one of the vaccines for medical reasons, they are normally now referred to their GP but I suppose that would depend on the medical issue. My oncologist was happy that it was safe for me to have either.

Whatever you decide to do OP, do not waste an appointment.

MacDuffsMuff · 22/02/2021 16:57

[quote NearlyAlwaysInsane]@Bluetrews25 would you say the same to a Muslism who did not want to take the vaccine if it had pork in it?[/quote]
One would assume they would research what was in either vaccination before going for their appointment. You don't have to have it done at a vaccination hub, you can wait and have it done through your GP surgery but it will take longer. I suppose it depends if someone is willing to wait or not doesn't it.

SerendipityJane · 22/02/2021 16:58

[quote NearlyAlwaysInsane]@Bluetrews25 would you say the same to a Muslism who did not want to take the vaccine if it had pork in it?[/quote]
The Quran (as well as the bible ...) both clearly prohibit eating pork. However, the reference from the Quran is Chapter 2:173.

“God has forbidden you only the meat of dead animals, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than God (for idols). But if one is forced by necessity without willful disobedience nor transgressing due limits, then there is no sin on him. Truly, God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”

makes it clear there are exceptions.

Up my way mosques are hosting vaccine centres.