Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

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

105 replies

fastwigglylines · 02/03/2021 21:26

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?

OP posts:
YardleyX · 03/03/2021 13:04

[quote FatPatty]@YardleyX if this is the case why aren’t they chasing no shows for tests?[/quote]
There’s no need.

If you don’t show for your test, you isolate for the full 10 days.

purpleboy · 03/03/2021 13:42

My DF was due his 1st jab in December, he woke up day before struggling to breathe (he has COPD) the dr told him to book a COVID test just to rule it out. He explained he was due the vaccine the next day, dr said no problem still go, called 119 to query it they said the same thing! Got to vaccination centre, told them, they said no problem and let him in for his jab! I was so shocked, I mean we pretty much knew he didn't have COVID, but he was still waiting on the test results to confirm. I sent an email to the GP to raise this and received a generic reply that didn't address the issues at all. Made me very cross and angry at how many other potential people could be there who were waiting on COVID results.

PutneyHill · 03/03/2021 15:53

It takes 3 weeks for an immune response to kick in after the vaccine. So given that you're high risk with kids going back to school next week personally I would prioritise in getting the jab done.

Original poster
fastwigglylines · 03/03/2021 15:54

@purpleboy

My DF was due his 1st jab in December, he woke up day before struggling to breathe (he has COPD) the dr told him to book a COVID test just to rule it out. He explained he was due the vaccine the next day, dr said no problem still go, called 119 to query it they said the same thing! Got to vaccination centre, told them, they said no problem and let him in for his jab! I was so shocked, I mean we pretty much knew he didn't have COVID, but he was still waiting on the test results to confirm. I sent an email to the GP to raise this and received a generic reply that didn't address the issues at all. Made me very cross and angry at how many other potential people could be there who were waiting on COVID results.
That doesn't sound like a good system at all Sad

Did you also lie to get the test? Or, if not, how did you get it? Is there a way without lying?!

OP posts:
Original poster
fastwigglylines · 03/03/2021 15:56

I've done the test and sent it off. I'll reschedule the covid jab.

Annoyed with the Dr. Just got to hope neither of my DS catch covid at school in the next few weeks Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
fastwigglylines · 03/03/2021 15:57

@PutneyHill

It takes 3 weeks for an immune response to kick in after the vaccine. So given that you're high risk with kids going back to school next week personally I would prioritise in getting the jab done.
I totally agree this is more important. But now I've lied to get a test, I don't know how to get the jab without risking getting in trouble and a big fine for breaking covid isolation.

How big is the fine, does anyone know?

OP posts:
FatPatty · 03/03/2021 16:18

As I said earlier OP my understanding is you are only legally required to isolate if you test positive or have been contacted by track and trace.

I’ve attached the legislation here around this so if any previous posters disputing this can post other legislation I would be keen to see it :

www.gov.uk/government/news/new-legal-duty-to-self-isolate-comes-into-force-today

This obviously doesn’t negate the fact you should isolate with symptoms before a positive test result but that doesn’t apply to your situation.

FatPatty · 03/03/2021 16:21

Is it worth calling your GP and clarifying?
Particularly as you are in a risk group so the vaccine is important for you to have.

Incogweeto · 03/03/2021 16:25

I’d still get the jab. No idea why you’ve been sent for a Covid test in your circumstances.

YardleyX · 03/03/2021 17:14

FatPatty - this situation is absolutely covered under that legislation.

When you go online via the NHS Test & Trace service to declare your Covid symptoms and request a test, you will be presented with a very clear message stating that you (and all members of your household) must now isolate for 10 days, or until a negative test result is received if that is sooner.

This is also reiterated in an email.

This counts as “contacted by NHS Test & Trace” in the above legislation.

FatPatty · 03/03/2021 17:31

@YardleyX do you have links to legislation that states this?

The legislation here states that the legal requirement starts from a positive test not requesting a test

FatPatty · 03/03/2021 17:33

I’m not talking about what we are being told to do in emails etc (of course isolating when we have symptoms isolating is what we should do) but the law is from a positive test or told to isolate directly as a contact of a positive case?

FatPatty · 03/03/2021 17:35

‘If someone or another member of their household has symptoms of coronavirus, they should, as now, isolate immediately. If someone receives a positive test result, they are now required by law to self-isolate for the period ending 10 days after displaying symptoms or after the date of the test, if they did not have symptoms. Other members of their household must self-isolate for the period ending 14 days after symptom onset, or after the date of the initial person’s positive test.

If someone is instructed to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, because they have had close contact with someone outside their household who has tested positive, they are legally required to self-isolate for the period notified by NHS Test and Trace. Both household and non-household contacts must self-isolate for the full period, regardless of whether they have symptoms and, if they develop symptoms and take a test, regardless of whether any test taken gives a negative result.’

FatPatty · 03/03/2021 17:36

The first part is what I was saying there’s no legislation linked to that just what we are being told to do. It’s the test and track and trace that triggers the legislation.
Happy to be told I’m wrong if you can show me where it says what you are saying in law?

FatPatty · 03/03/2021 17:37

It’s ‘should v must’ which is important in legislation

Original poster
fastwigglylines · 03/03/2021 17:47

Even if it's not law to isolate, won't I get in trouble if it's ever discovered that I've said in an official context that I have symptoms then go for the jab?

Either I'll get done for exposing people to covid, or if I admit to lying then I'll get in trouble for lying to the NHS?

OP posts:
Bubbinsmakesthree · 03/03/2021 17:47

If it were me I’d just turn up for the jab and lie if necessary. That’s probably not the right thing to do, but it’s what I would do.

Original poster
fastwigglylines · 03/03/2021 17:50

For the £22 billion the Governmen has spent on test and trace, we should be able to get tests as a precaution anyway, why can't we?

£22 billion is an astronomical amount of money.

So fed up with all of this.

OP posts:
Original poster
fastwigglylines · 03/03/2021 17:52

@Bubbinsmakesthree

If it were me I’d just turn up for the jab and lie if necessary. That’s probably not the right thing to do, but it’s what I would do.
I probably would if I had an idea of how much trouble I might get in! If it's just a fine of a few hundred quid, then I'd risk that. If it's going to get me in trouble somehow, or give me a criminal record, perhaps not...
OP posts:
SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun · 03/03/2021 20:11

You could tell the truth at the vaccination centre. If they ask. If there is someone there with common sense they will vaccinate you despite the fact that you requested a test on your GO’s advice for a cough you have had for a year and not report you to the police. I would say the absolute worst that may happen is they will turn you away but then you can rebook.

SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun · 03/03/2021 20:12

GP’s advice

Original poster
fastwigglylines · 04/03/2021 17:45

I've managed to rebook it for the last appointment tomorrow, but there were no other appointments available on the widget.

Plenty available tomorrow, but that was it.

I'm hoping (probably unrealistically) that I get my results tonight or tomorrow morning.

OP posts:
psychomath · 04/03/2021 18:40

@YardleyX I don't have any inside knowledge of how the system works at all, but if what you're saying is true, couldn't someone maliciously enter another person's details into the booking form and then report them for not self-isolating?

Original poster
fastwigglylines · 04/03/2021 22:37

Phew! After all that, my result came through just now - negative. That was fast!

So I'll go get my jab tomorrow. Thanks for helping me think it through.

OP posts:
SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun · 04/03/2021 22:48

Hooray! Problem solved. Hope it goes well tomorrow.