Will I be allowed the covid jab if waiting for a test?

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I had a phone consultation with my doctor yesterday over a long term cough I've had. I made it clear it's not a new cough and the Dr wants to do a blood test.

However she said I need to have a covid test before I come to get the blood test and I should book online. I explored all the options on the NHS website and there wasn't one for "the GP told me to get a test" so I lied and said my cough started 2 days ago, not a year ago, which is the actual date.

I know people will probably tell me off for lying but I didn't know what to do. It's taken me a while to get the Drs appointment.

But then, later that same day I got invited by text to have my Covid jab and the only dates available were Weds or Thurs so I booked Thurs.

Are they going to ask me if I've recently done a test? Will I not be able to get the jab?

I really want the jab before the DC go back as I'm in a high risk group.

WWYD?

The guidance says you are not supposed to have the jab while waiting for a test result. I can’t remember if they actually asked me at the vaccination site though, sorry.

They will ask if you have had symptoms or are awaiting result before letting you in.

No, I don’t think you will be able to have your jab. I was admin at COVID vacc clinic the other day & am sure one of the questions was if you have any symptoms or have had a test in the last 7-10 days you can’t have it.

Seeing as you're required to isolate until you get the result back, you won't be allowed to go to the appointment. Unless you break the isolation, and then if it comes back positive you'll have to disclose you'd broken your isolation (appreciate the cough isn't new but you may be asymptomatic) Were there really only 2 days available for your jab? When I booked mine there were weeks and weeks worth of appointments. Perhaps if you looked a few days later more slots would be released so you could avoid the period you'll be waiting for results?

So annoying! I've had this cough for a year, and the day I go to the Dr about it I get invited for my jab!

What if I just don't do the test until after the jab? Then I can answer honestly that I haven't got symptoms and am not waiting for results. The blood test can wait, it's not urgent.

They ask if you are suffering from any new covid symptoms which you aren't.

Has your consultant asked you to take a test because he thinks the cough could be covid or as a precaution to rule out being positive before you go into the hospital for treatment? If its the former you should isolate according if its the latter you don't need to isolate and can go about your normal business (i think)

It will be fine to rebook the appointment. Surely there are some appointments in the next couple of weeks or so...

@3littlewords

They ask if you are suffering from any new covid symptoms which you aren't.

Has your consultant asked you to take a test because he thinks the cough could be covid or as a precaution to rule out being positive before you go into the hospital for treatment? If its the former you should isolate according if its the latter you don't need to isolate and can go about your normal business (i think)

I assume the latter as I was very clear I've had the cough for a year and I have no other symptoms (except heartburn, which isn't a covid symptom!)

She didn't say anything about isolating. FWIW she was a locum at my GP surgery not a specialist consultant.

@WeatherwaxLives

Seeing as you're required to isolate until you get the result back, you won't be allowed to go to the appointment. Unless you break the isolation, and then if it comes back positive you'll have to disclose you'd broken your isolation (appreciate the cough isn't new but you may be asymptomatic) Were there really only 2 days available for your jab? When I booked mine there were weeks and weeks worth of appointments. Perhaps if you looked a few days later more slots would be released so you could avoid the period you'll be waiting for results?

But I don't have covid symptoms! I just said I did to get her test as I didn't know what else to do. Gah!

Maybe I should call in the morning and say I put the wrong date, or will that get me in trouble for lying on the online form?

So frustrating.

What was the right thing to do, do you think? Maybe to go back to the Dr and say I couldn't get a test, I suppose?

There were really only 2 days. I got a text message with a link and there were only 2 days.

I wish I hadn't lied now, I can't take it back can I?!

I think you need to re-book your jab for next week.

Get the test out of the way, and crack on with sorting out your existing cough with the GP. Because having been told that you need a negative test before you can be seen, lying and saying you can't gerna test will only delay investigations. (And GP will know you're lying, as test availability is very good)

Your problem now will convincing someone that you lied on a government form to get a test; rather than lying now to get a vaccine... it’s a bit of a tough call.

I was asked whether I was awaiting test results when I arrived on Saturday, we wouldn’t be allowed in if we said yes. We also had to confirm that we didn’t have a cough, temperature, etc.

I think you’ll probably have to rebook your vaccine, and isolate until your test results are back, which is irritating under the circumstances. Your GP should have given you some advice on how to book - there’s usually an option that they tell you to use if it’s at medical request, although I’m not 100% sure that using it stops the requirement to isolate, I haven’t needed to book a test since.

No way am I isolating, that's ridiculous! I don't have covid symptoms.

@UnmentionedElephantDildo

I think you need to re-book your jab for next week.

Get the test out of the way, and crack on with sorting out your existing cough with the GP. Because having been told that you need a negative test before you can be seen, lying and saying you can't gerna test will only delay investigations. (And GP will know you're lying, as test availability is very good)

I wasn't planning on lying and saying I couldn't get a test!

I was considering just not doing the one I've ordered so I can truthfully answer that I neither have symptoms nor am waiting for results.

Not doing it till after the jab, I mean.

Firstly if you have had a test due to symptoms you should be isolating at this point. Not sure how long test results are taking now - ours came back within 48 hours at Christmas when it was very busy. If you did your test on Monday you may well receive it before your vaccination on Thursday.
Clearly if the result is positive you must continue to isolate & you will not be able to have your vaccination until 4 weeks from the test date. If you are negative you should be fine.
I have a relative with a similar situation (long term cough currently being investigated) She has had a negative covid test and a vaccination a short time later whilst still having a cough.

But I think the solution is probably to call the GP.amd explain, and hope I don't get in too much trouble for lying about how long I've had the cough on the NHS website

The two systems won't be linked - I very much doubt they are anyway but obviously can't be 100% but it would have required complicated and unnecessary programming. I believe they ask you (at the vaccination centre) if you have covid symptoms which you haven't and if not they do your jab. The test you are having is just a precaution. You won't have to isolate until you get your result because you don't have covid symptoms. Stop over thinking it and just get both things done as separate entities. It will be fine.

Yes you had to lie to get the test but that is really the GPs fault for telling you to do it when there must be a system for them to book you a test?

@Smashedavacado

Firstly if you have had a test due to symptoms you should be isolating at this point. Not sure how long test results are taking now - ours came back within 48 hours at Christmas when it was very busy. If you did your test on Monday you may well receive it before your vaccination on Thursday. Clearly if the result is positive you must continue to isolate & you will not be able to have your vaccination until 4 weeks from the test date. If you are negative you should be fine. I have a relative with a similar situation (long term cough currently being investigated) She has had a negative covid test and a vaccination a short time later whilst still having a cough.

But I'm not having a test due to symptoms and no one has told me to isolate. The GP just said to get a test.

I haven't received my test, I asked for a postal one.

I've had this cough at least a year! It's definitely not a new, persistent cough.

@SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun

The two systems won't be linked - I very much doubt they are anyway but obviously can't be 100% but it would have required complicated and unnecessary programming. I believe they ask you (at the vaccination centre) if you have covid symptoms which you haven't and if not they do your jab. The test you are having is just a precaution. You won't have to isolate until you get your result because you don't have covid symptoms. Stop over thinking it and just get both things done as separate entities. It will be fine.

Yes you had to lie to get the test but that is really the GPs fault for telling you to do it when there must be a system for them to book you a test?

That's a good point. This government are rubbish at big IT systems aren't they, and they're all about carving the NHS up, not integrating it.

I work as a vaccinator and the answer is no.

No to what, exactly?

Honestly I think you are way over complicating! Nobody will be checking the NHS test forms, you won’t get in trouble. Has the test even arrived yet if you ordered it for home delivery? I would delay doing the test, get the vaccine on Thursday (presume it’s this Thursday) and do the test after that. You don’t have covid symptoms so you aren’t doing anything wrong with that. You can then answer truthfully at the vaccine centre that you don’t have symptoms and you haven’t done a test recently.

I would definitely prioritise vaccine if you could only book those two days