Page 6 | Eligible to book on NHS vaccine website - vaccinators say queue jumper

Summerflowers209 · 2021-02-24T10:50:35+00:00

My dad is 63 and had his vaccine today by booking the appointment via the NHS booking link. As of yesterday over 60s became eligible. However, the vaccinators at his appointment were not impressed and said he should not have booked as he is not over 65 and he should have waited for a letter. They said he has queue jumped. Is this right? That if it allows you to book, you shouldn't unless you receive a letter?

RickiTarr · 24/02/2021 19:45

[quote bigloungewear]@RickiTarr I booked appointment as carer and took DLA letter and showed at hospital along with photo ID. DLA letter is addressed to me so my husband will take kids birth certificate to show he is father and also carer. [/quote]
Thanks. I will pass that on.

nomorespaghetti · 24/02/2021 20:16

I’m sorry your dad had that horrible experience OP.

I’m a carer and I got my jab today start booking on the mass vaccination centre link. There was a steady trickle of people, but not loads, and one of the volunteers mentioned that they needed more people to book, so “tell your friends!”

I’m just wondering if anyone will know the answer to this - my GP practice have me down as a carer, and told me they’d contact me when it was my turn. Today they texted out an update on how they’re getting on with the jabs. Basically said that group 6, which includes carers, is huge, and to wait to be contacted by them as they’re doing the oldest first. I’m just wondering why they didn’t point people in the direction of the mass vaccination centre booking link, particularly since carers can book on there? Is it because they get paid per jab or something like that? There’s a hell of a lot of people to get through in group 6, so letting people know about the link would get people jabbed a lot quicker.

Karmatime · 24/02/2021 20:26

I got a text from my GP telling me to book with a link to mass vaccination centre site. I had to enter NHS no and it let me book for tomorrow. I’m 55, no vulnerabilities, or care responsibility, I was surprised it was so soon. Now worrying I’ll be turned away.......

QueenPaw · 24/02/2021 22:29

@nononoyesno it seems so random. I wasn't asked for id, just showed the text booking on my phone. No questions asked despite being mid thirties (this was 3 weeks ago)
No forms to fill in, I was in there all of 10 mins then waited in the car for 15 before I drove home
I think if anyone had queried my eligibility I might have thrown all my shielding letters at them

WhitechapelLass · 24/02/2021 22:31

I’m working in a vaccination centre. My view is if someone is there they are eligible and they get it (unless something comes up like an allergy that means they shouldn’t have it).

I do have some questions to ask (eg are you a carer) but these are standard questions on the screen for, I assume, data gathering purposes. I just record the answer and what you answer doesn’t change whether or not you get a vaccine. I warn people I have a set list of questions some of which may seem odd, and I try to be kind snd gentle when asking them as I realise there are these concerns and some people are nervous anyway about the injection.

I’d hate to know I’d made someone feel I was judging anything or made them feel uncomfortable. That’s horrible.

This is totally different from people misusing healthcare slots inappropriately.

ScribblingPixie · 24/02/2021 22:34

Some of the NHS Twitter accounts are now inviting 60+ people to book and one says the website just needs updating so don't be put off.

WeMarchOn · 24/02/2021 22:35

I booked last night on the website as i get carers allowance and i had my vaccine this morning no problem.

nononoyesno · 24/02/2021 22:50

@QueenPaw strange isn't it! Glad you weren't questioned.
I should say that this was just one person who I felt grilled by, it was on the whole a smoothly run, brilliant operation with lots of smiling and helpful staff and young volunteers. Made me quite emotional!
Was also in and out in 15mins and only had to confirm name and DOB.
Thanks to @WhitechapelLass and everyone else involved in delivering the vaccinations.

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 24/02/2021 22:50

I had the same reaction when I had mine on Monday. I'm 64 and had booked through the link. I had tried it a few times previously and it said I wasn't eligible but then last Friday it said I was. The woman on the desk made me feel bad, I was rather shocked at her attitude to be honest. The link just wouldn't allow anyone to queue jump, it's as simple as that.

ShaunaTheSheep · 24/02/2021 22:55

DH is booked in for tomorrow- he's 60. There were several places to choose from including pharmacies and 2 mass vaccine sites, plenty of availability.

When I booked mine via GP group 6 link, I had a completely different list of local GP led centres.

Myalternate · 24/02/2021 23:04

I don't understand why anyone that has an appointment is even being questioned ?
You have to input your NHS number and DOB. If you're eligible according to the site, you'll receive an appointment. it doesn't matter what the person administering it thinks.

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 24/02/2021 23:32

@nononoyesno

I got a bit of a grilling when I went for mine. Got a text from the GP last week with a link and telling me to book (as did DH). We both have health conditions but didn't think we were CV, and decided maybe the new guidelines + postcode were at play. DH got questioned on health conditions and a raised eyebrow from the nurse administrating the vaccine, I had similar questions along with being asked for details of my GP and eventually 'well we'll give it to you as you're here'. Felt very guilty and apologised but not sure what else I was supposed to do . . .

I was a bit upset with my experience but I'm now getting the rage reading this and other posts. I appreciate the volunteers' efforts but they absolutely do not have the right to question whether we should receive the vaccine or not! I'd like to give feedback on the centre I went to but can't find any way of doing it.

saraclara · 25/02/2021 00:15

@Jaxhog

This is pretty shitty. My younger sister just booked both of her jabs. I've just had my first jab and the site won't let me book my second one. Let's hope they have some vaccine left for when I need my second jab. Neither can my Mum who had her first jab 6 weeks ago.

On the website you have to book your second jab at the same time as the first. You can't do them separately.

Try calling 119 to see if they can do it on their system. I called them about changing my second appointment and they were really helpful.

RagzReturnsRebooted · 25/02/2021 00:23

Being a vaccinator is a really good thing, I'm grateful to people who are doing it. But they are not gatekeepers, they are not there to pass moral judgement and argue with people who have been able to book. If they had concerns they should raise them with their line management, not be unpleasant and rude to people who have booked in perfectly legitimately.

I'm a vaccinator and i consider it my job to make sure the patient can safely have the vaccine. If they've been booked, I consider their eligibility to have been managed by others and don't question it. Plenty of people qualify by having health conditions that make them vulnerable, so regardless of their age I have no way of knowing if they are entitled. If they turn up and can safely have it, the more jabs in arms the better.
We did have some questionable ones booked in as part of group 2 when we were doing health workers and some seemed to be booked with very tenuous connections. But I didn't question the patients about it, that wasn't my job, deciding who was booked was done by other people and I don't have time in the 4 minute appointments to start grilling them!

They were uneccessarily rude to your Dad, OP. We don't have a shortage of vaccines and anywhere that is behind is due to poor management, which isn't your Dad's fault.

Smileyoriley · 25/02/2021 08:42

@ Oblahdeeoblahdoe I was thinking I may do the same.
It was a horrible moment and I was left feeling I had somehow played the system.

ajandjjmum · 25/02/2021 09:43

Someone I know had booked through the NHS system, and when they arrived at the vaccination centre this morning - with the DOB and confirmation numbers, which was all they were told to bring - they were turned away. They wanted a letter from her GP to say that she was eligible. I am shocked! I thought that you wouldn't be able to book if they didn't want you to have it! Also feel dreadful as I told her how to see if she could get an appointment.

NotSorry · 25/02/2021 09:48

My husband’s official letter from the NHS has arrived this morning telling him to book (I’d already booked it). I will make sure he takes that with him too. Not a peep from our GP.

ScribblingPixie · 25/02/2021 09:49

They need to get their act together with new website info. Some NHS Twitter accounts are telling over-60s to book via the NHS site, like this one:
twitter.com/NHSWakefieldCCG

minchinfin · 25/02/2021 10:03

Everyone in all groups now or with any shielding/caring considerations should be checking the website and inputting their NHS number daily now imo. We are motoring through vaccinations, have plenty of supply and for every person that is vaccinated in group 1-9 now, the quicker they will get to doing all adults and we can move through to some semblance of normal life and making this virus an endemic winter respiratory virus that we just live with. (Lets keep the improved hand hygiene though people and keep backing off in queues :) )

ajandjjmum · 25/02/2021 10:49

@minchinfin

Everyone in all groups now or with any shielding/caring considerations should be checking the website and inputting their NHS number daily now imo. We are motoring through vaccinations, have plenty of supply and for every person that is vaccinated in group 1-9 now, the quicker they will get to doing all adults and we can move through to some semblance of normal life and making this virus an endemic winter respiratory virus that we just live with. (Lets keep the improved hand hygiene though people and keep backing off in queues :) )

I wish I could let the jobsworth on the gate at the Black Country Museum understand this - after he turned away someone with a booking confirmation this morning, because they didn't have a letter.

NotSorry · 25/02/2021 11:09

@ajandjjmum

I wish this site had a “like post” feature

I agree with you

Abraxan · 25/02/2021 11:11

It's not queue jumping. Over 60s are eligible. The government department have even tweeted to say so. It's just the front page of the site hasn't been updated.

No need to wait for a letter.

WombatChocolate · 25/02/2021 11:13

I’ve had mine this morning.
I turned up and they asked my name and that was it. And it wasn’t the person on the car park asking, but someone in the building who had a computer and was looking at their list. Clearly anyone who has booked is on the list.

These cases of booked people being turned away need reporting. It is exactly the kind of thing that scares people and stops them booking (especially when the front page on NHS booking site still says over 64s) and causes bottle necks in the system.

Lots of people are anxious about it all, keen not to be queue jumpers or pests to the NHS and will just roll-over and go home if someone says this to them. If someone had said this to me, I would have insisted on seeing the manager and I’m sure it would have all been rectified. However, lots of people would be really upset by this and just go home....vulnerable people who need the vaccine.

People co-ordinating it all need to be clear about the issues of different information within the booking systems (allowing over 60s to book) but the front page saying over 64s, and issues with Group 6 people having no idea if they are group 6 or not and no way to find out, and also about people being turned away who are booked.

These seem like simple things to sort when they can manage the logistically hard stuff of supplying the vaccine to the right places and running complex booking systems.

Abraxan · 25/02/2021 11:13

@Springingintospring

I posted on fb to tell people group 7 could now book and most were grateful for info but got a few snooty responses too. Some people seem to think we should vaccinate every single group 6 person before we move onto the next group, even if it meant massive delays in the rollout! Everyone in all priority groups are going to be done in the next few weeks anyway.

I do agree that there should be a system to enable group 6 to access the national site. This seems like a huge oversight, especially as local provision at surgeries varies massively.

However as yet group 6 can't use the National all system so much better to let others access it, even if it's before group 6.

I'm group 6 btw, though did manage to have my vaccine yesterday as the surgery bumped me up their list.

NotSorry · 25/02/2021 11:21

This is the sort of thread that the nationals need to pick up on.