DH 'offered' vaccination, but can't get an appointment. AIBU to think the appointment system is not fair?

[Boxerbinky]

My DH is type 1 Diabetic, so received a text from our GP asking him to call for an appointment for his COVID jab a week ago. The phone line opened at 10am, he got through at 10.03 and there were no appointments for the week. They took his details in case of a cancellation and said call back in a week. He called again yesterday and the advisor explained that our GP (where he has to get the jab) a surgery with 9000 patients was given only 50 slots, only 1000 appointments were given out in our area, which according to stats is one of the worst hit for COVID in the region. At that rate he may not get his jab til next year, but Boris has met his target by 'offering' him an appointment
I have no problem with extra vaccines being used up rather than wasted, but I also know a number of none vulnerable people who have had the jab by appointment because they are tenuously connected to someone who works in a hospital. AIBU to think this is not right?

My DH has his today, I think he’s group 6, 57 a bit overweight, asthmatic, he had a stroke a few years ago and has a heart murmur, so relieved, i’m group 9, 11.5million people in front of me.

He doesn't need to keep calling though. Those of us who have links but didn't get appointments at the time just kept checking and eventually there were some available. I'd still much rather have had the chance to book by being sent the link, than nothing! I don't see why he'd rather have waited til mid-April to get sent a link, and miss out on any potential spots, just so that it was a time when it was easy to book.

I didn't phone anyone. The link just eventually came up with some possible times, and I took one for the future.

If he's vulnerable, you'd think he'd want to get one as soon as they come available, rather than wait for weeks from now to be sent a link. The target is mid April for all the second wave of groups 5-9, and something like end of March for group 6 specifically, so there is a long time to wait yet before worrying.

It's been discussed loads in the news, how the group 5/6 split is working, so I don't think very many people are phoning or wasting time - they have been told on most of the GPs website that they'll be contacted with a link at some point in the future. When my link came, there weren't appointments available at the time, nothing showed up for a couple of weeks. You just keep checking.

I think they did focus on the most vulnerable and got them done by Mid Feb, for the majority. Now it's the somewhat less vulnerable, and they're hoping for mid-April. They can't go equally fast in all areas, so I don't think some should wait to do group 6 if they have capacity, even if other areas don't yet.

We haven't been offered a link 🙈🙈🙈 I've already said to call is the only option offered @Thimbleberries

Then that's not taking up extra time, if that's what they asked you to do. Miine asked me to keep checking a link. Whichever - it still gives you a chance to book as soon as the appointments come up.

if you'd rather not have to call until there are more avialable, then just ignore it for a while and try again in a couple of weeks! Vaccines are arriving all the time.

I'd much rather have my possibility to book than to wait to even be sent that until they had loads of space, but if he doesn't want that, then wait for now. I'm sure by mid-April, which is the target for this group, something will come up.

they have offered the most vulnerable vaccines by mid-Feb, and the next target is mid-april. It's really not some conspiracy to say that they've offered them when they haven't been able to meet the demand yet. supply is unpredictable and there are many people booking, so it's bound to be patchy in places. I'd still rather have a chance of booking, even if it means nothing available right now. My GP doesn't even know more than a few days in advance when they will get any delivered, and that's typical of many places. If they hadn't sent out links or told people to call, nobody would be able to book in when they do get some.

Strange.. my ECV mum booked a mass centre 🤷🏼‍♀️ Our GP aren’t doing vaccines so she had no choice! If a group 4 person can go to a stadium for a vaccine, I don’t see why a group 6 person can’t.. it’s silly!

Keep trying the NHS online system, does it let him through to book an appointment but just none left? Or does it not let him get that far?

@Boxerbinky

Thank you for all your replies.. he is group 6 and under 40. I have just spoke to 119 who were lovely and as helpful as possible, but advised that my DH cannot book an appointment through them or on the link and that he can only book through the GP as they are handling the group 6 for their own patients. The advisor yesterday told him that there were only 50 appointments available at our GP surgery, this is crazy given the size of our GP..these have understandably gone quickly so he is left in limbo, there must be a great number of other vulnerable people struggling to get these appointments. His only option is to keep trying the number he was given in the text 🙈

Ah, as I thought. Group 6 not 4. Having a pop at Boris in the OP for no reason!

[quote Boxerbinky]@Thimbleberries my point is that the fact that my dh has been OFFERED an appointment, goes towards the data that they will have met the target when the figures are released. The fact that obtaining said appointment is nigh on impossible counts for nothing. The advisors in 119 and at GP's will have to field unnecessary calls rather than the situation being honestly managed. [/quote]
The number released daily are number of vaccinations given. Not how many people are in the process of booking their appointment.

We are not given daily stats on how many people have been “offered” the vaccination, just how many people have actually had it.

No group 6 deadline has in fact been passed, or missed.

Some of it just doesn’t make sense, next door neighbour invited to book and nothing for 14 day, I booked on the main site under carers and hundreds of slots including today at the hub and including asking the 64s.

If a message hadn't been sent out to try and book then millions of group 6 would be ringing up asking, "am I in the system why haven't I been offered a jab".

If no slots are available then wait a week and try again. Just have patience its only a few more weeks.

Have you tried booking here?

www.nhs.uk/book-a-coronavirus-vaccination/do-you-have-an-nhs-number

This seems madness. Im group 6, I went to the main nhs site (ahead of receiving letter) was easily able to book main hub for next day. No option locally but fine by me, I can travel, would have gone 100 miles if necessary.
There must be specific reason why they won’t let you?

I’m in group 6. NHS site says I’m not eligible to book yet.

[quote merrymim]Have you tried booking here?

www.nhs.uk/book-a-coronavirus-vaccination/do-you-have-an-nhs-number[/quote]
You can’t use that link to book if you’re group 6. It lists the only people who can book on the website.. I try it every day.

I'm sure I read they added 2 million people to the shielding list last week so they can get them vaccinated sooner. So you could be Group 6 but now if you're added to shielding you should be able to book.

@Boxerbinky

We haven't been offered a link 🙈🙈🙈 I've already said to call is the only option offered *@Thimbleberries*

So you are trying to jump the queue?

Blimey do people actually read the thread. OP husband is group 6. So got a text telling him to phone to book apptment for vaccine. No link. When he phoned there were no appointments and it looks like the amount of appointments were very small.
The advice given on here is just to phone every few days to check for an appointment.
No he is not jumping the queue.
They are not yet near the end date which they said all group 6 would be done. There are about 7 million people in this group.