So much for ‘protect the NHS’

[littlelionboss]

This is a ranty post & I apologise.

I’m really starting to get pissed off with the vaccine situation.

My area are now onto vaccinating the over 40’s!!!

I’ve got family & friends that have been called for theirs... fit, healthy, no underlying health conditions.

I’m early 30’s two health conditions and I’m in group 6 for the vaccine.

I can’t book online and when I’ve spoken to my GP (today) they’ve just said I will have to wait for them to contact me.

My sister in law has been given hers on the basis that she’s a carer.
She “cares” for her husband who has a bad back.
A back so bad that over the summer he’s completely transformed his back garden, alone!

It just really doesn’t seem fair at all.

I have a small child and I’m a single parent, surely I should be vaccinated as a carer?!

I know we are all entitled to the vaccine, but hasn’t the point all along beeb to protect the NHS?!

How are we protecting them by jumping ahead to the fit and healthy and leaving the vulnerable ones behind?!

It does seem strange the way different areas are vaccinating different groups. I went on the NHS website today not really expecting to get my husband an appointment (he's 59, 60 in March) so straddles 2 different groups depending on date of vaccination and his birthday. I was immediately able to book both appointments.

The receptionists absolutely are. This has been reported by many people to epilepsy action groups. The receptionistsays epilepsyisnt included in group6. . When they query this and the gatekeeper permits contact with the practice manager who actually checks properly they admit the initial info given by the receptionist is wrong

That's why group 7 can now book online

Where? Group 7 cannot book through the online booking system. Certianly our area is nowhere near Group 7 via GP practices who are struggling to get more allocation of vaccines.

I my mother's area carers (supposed to be group 2) are struggling to get vaccinated whilst the neighbouring area was calling healthy under 50s.

Roll out was never going to be absolutely consistent but when neighbouring areas are wildly out of sync some redistribution of vaccine should be in place and would be more helpful in reducing the load on the NHS, than rushing through healthy 40 somethings to increase the numbers in politicians' statements.

I have also been slightly shocked at the number of people I know who were vaccinated with group 1 & 2 despite being young and healthy by using family connections with HCPs/Practice managers/service providers.

@Beaniecats

The receptionists absolutely are. This has been reported by many people to epilepsy action groups. The receptionistsays epilepsyisnt included in group6. . When they query this and the gatekeeper permits contact with the practice manager who actually checks properly they admit the initial info given by the receptionist is wrong

And whilst a receptionist giving mis-information isn’t helpful, it would still be on the patient records with the GP/Nurse would annotate and then call the patient forward.

The receptionists do not put clinical diagnosis information onto a patient file, nor do they go through and decide who they fancy calling forward for a vaccine.

If you feel sure your SIL's husband is faking his condition to commit benefit fraud you should report that. Otherwise your SIL is in the correct group and having it at the time she's been told to. I understand what you're saying about the order but I think they are aiming for speed of getting everyone done over concerning themselves and therefore slowing down over the perfect order. The quicker everyone gets done the better for everyone. If your area is on over 40s already then surely it can't be much longer till over 30s. I hope you get it very soon.

I’m group 6 and was getting really frustrated waiting for the GP to call while hearing of the local mass vaccination hub being half empty and throwing vaccines away at the end of each day. Fortunately some of the staff there were letting it be known on Facebook that they’d vaccinate walk-ins in group 7. So I figured I’d take my chances and walked in there yesterday with proof of my underlying condition (type 1 diabetes) and they accepted me as a walk-in patient. I wish all the hubs not at full capacity would do the same. It’s not so much wanting to jump ahead of people, but it’s not right to let doses go to waste!

I understand your frustration OP.
I AM pleased when friends get their vaccine but I find it a bit inconsiderate when they gloat about it eg putting badges on their social media pages.

@NoWayHosier

Why can't ambulant Group 6 people book a slot in a hub? Seems daft they are all having to be vaccinated by GPs when some may be able to book online and attend a hub.

I don't know for sure, but I'm G6 and when I went got mine (st my GP) they looked up my records and took their time. It appeared they were making sure there wasn't any reason I shouldn't have it.

Also I think they are doing G6 at GP's at medical venues, as we are the most likely to have a reaction I suppose

My GP's were then told to stop doing G6, only G5 and they needed to wait until they got guidance re carers.

I really hope you can get yours soon. It hasn't changed my (very very careful behaviour at all) but it has helped feel a bit less worried about ending up in hospital/dying. Sunshine has helped too!

I feel your pain OP. I have Type 1 diabetes. I've heard of some diabetics being classed in group 4 now (since the updated shielding list) but my GP just tells me i'll have to wait until they have the vaccine in to offer any appointments and then they are going through group 6 purely by age rather than condition or risk or anything else. People are getting same day appointments on the age based systems at the mass vacc hubs, it would ease so much pressure on the GPs if the obvious health conditions could go to the mass hubs.

I do not begrudge anyone who is getting their jabs, they should 100% take it if offered even if they are a group 8 or whatever, they should go for it without feeling bad. I do however feel let down by the system and those who have administered it. They linked group 4 to the hub they could do the same for group 6. It gets you down when you are regularly told how vulnerable you are but yet at the same time that you are not quite vulnerable enough, all while hearing how well the vaccine roll out is going, how many people the hubs are getting through etc. It does rub your nose in it a little bit.

Oh & my friend got invited on the Friday (and she's at less risk than I am, so I was a little bit put out, whilst being incredibly thrilled she was getting hers. Then two other friends & I got our invitations Saturday morning, we all went on the Saturday to have them). I think the snow helped as they had the vaccines snd were worried the snow would make the process very difficult, so the Saturday was maxed out! (An inch,at most, of snow in the days after) but I wasn't complaining.

@BluebellsGreenbells

I don’t see the issue.

We will all be done at some point.

However, the more people who badger the GP’s and other service providers the more time is wasted.

Let them get on with their jobs.

This!

Just wait FGS. All these people getting grabby over the vaccine turns my stomach tbh.

Same situation here op, a vulnerable person in group six has not been vaccinated while six of my friends age 51-56 have been vaccinated (no underlying health conditions).
I called the helpline and they can’t do anything as it’s up to the GP.

My SS and wife both work in nhs, in clerical roles and have both been working from home. They both got called in by colleagues on different days as there were leftover vaccines that would have been wasted if not used up that day. The only group of people they had the contact details for such short notice were their colleagues. They are both healthy and late thirties. Better than wasting them l suppose, which wouldn't benefit anyone.

It ‘turns my stomach’ that a vulnerable person with severe learning disabilities who can’t defend themselves or assert themselves has been seemingly forgotten while my marathon running gym bunny friends have got the vaccination.

Group 7 can now book online through the central booking website - they're gradually lowering the age that qualifies and I definitely know of 62 year olds who have booked this way (and heard anyone over 60 is now eligible)

@C8H10N4O2

That's why group 7 can now book online

Where? Group 7 cannot book through the online booking system. Certianly our area is nowhere near Group 7 via GP practices who are struggling to get more allocation of vaccines.

I my mother's area carers (supposed to be group 2) are struggling to get vaccinated whilst the neighbouring area was calling healthy under 50s.

Roll out was never going to be absolutely consistent but when neighbouring areas are wildly out of sync some redistribution of vaccine should be in place and would be more helpful in reducing the load on the NHS, than rushing through healthy 40 somethings to increase the numbers in politicians' statements.

I have also been slightly shocked at the number of people I know who were vaccinated with group 1 & 2 despite being young and healthy by using family connections with HCPs/Practice managers/service providers.

@C8H10N4O2

Group 7 CAN book online.

I know this because I booked my father in law.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

NHS announced this mid week.

We've been lucky.

I am group 6 and had my vaccine yesterday. Our GPs have grouped together with a number of other surgeries are operating all the jabs from one health centre where they're doing around 500 jabs a day. They've even set up a marquee at the back for people to sit in while they're waiting for 15 minutes before being allowed to leave.

DP took me and they suggested that they do him at the same time since they had some spares from people who didn't turn up - "better in your arm than in the bin" as the nurse put it.

I do worry though that group 6 is a bit of a lottery dependent on the efficiency of your GPs surgery but as others have said it will hopefully be covered by age groups as well.

It seems odd that they are calling some healthy under 50s in some areas. I suspect that they have been put into group 6 for some reason. It's well known that a history of gestation diabetes can do that for example. I'm also not convinced that people always know others medical histories. Not everybody likes to talk about it .A relative of mine was ranting about someone they know who is under 50 getting vaccinated "despite being perfectly healthy." Whilst I would never divulge someone's medical history and so haven't said anything, I know the person actually has an underlying condition and whilst it's very mild it would still have put them in group 6.
If you are in group 6 OP, you will be vaccinated soon.

I don’t understand why you can’t book online, my partner is group six and am I, we both booked ours online and had our first vaccine last saturday. We were sent a letter with instructions on how to do it.

Had my jab and there were several people not on the list asking to be vaccinated and went inside. There was also separate queue for people who were waiting for any spare jabs.

So some will get vaccinated because there was a good supply on that day. But equally they could have waited and been unlucky.

@littlelionboss The groups in the NHS link are 5 and above apart from carers.

Are you saying they are booking healthy 40 year olds? They haven’t even released details of vaccination priorities for the under 50s yet? I thought the booking site says you can book if you’re 64 or older. A carer of any age is in group 6. They may be healthy but they’re still priority (not excusing individuals who aren’t genuine carers). Group 5 have only been called in the last fortnight here.
Aren’t the younger people either carers, have a condition in group 6 (many will appear very healthy eg coeliacs) or were available at short notice for excess vaccines? Group 6 is massive- 7 million before all the additional carers etc
The really vulnerable people in group 6 have been bumped up to shielding/ group and will get it first, the rest are not that much more vulnerable. When you get down to group 6,7,8,9 there’s not a lot of difference in risk it’s just a convenient way of organising things, you will be called very soon

@Botanicals

It ‘turns my stomach’ that a vulnerable person with severe learning disabilities who can’t defend themselves or assert themselves has been seemingly forgotten while my marathon running gym bunny friends have got the vaccination.

But surely someone is advocating for this person you are talking about? If not, can you?

People with learning disabilities are now high priority for jabs and a review by their GP. So as long as they are coded correctly they should be picked up very quickly. If worried they may go under the radar I’d ring the GP surgery if you can

I'm in my 50s. Don't claim Carer's Allowance on my son as I work but he has higher rate DLA. Still not been invited. Also have a totally shit GP so not holding my breath.