55 years and over in Group 8 actually means 56 and over.

[bellinisurge]

An FB friend has spotted that the nhs website calls Group 8 "56 years and over" and the government calls Group 8 "55 years and over".
It's fiiiiiine

I don’t understand why the NHS would miss out one year of group 8

I think they work through the age groups year by year, but don't update the front page very efficiently.

My 64 year old neighbour was able to book the day before his 63 year old wife, but she booked when it was still saying 64 and over on the front page.

It may be that it gets extended to 55 at some point over the next week, i.e. move one year at a time.

I'm struggling to get worked up over that.

Many countries wish they had problems like that with their rollout!

Hi HelloThereMeHearties , this isn't a thread about other countries. Although you are, of course welcome to talk about that. And I suspect it would mean more to you if you were 55. As you were.

They won't be missing anyone out. Guess it will either change to over 50s when they are ready or another group like 53 to 55

It'll be 51 and over next...

I'm 55. I can wait a week or so..

Still not letting age 55 book ?

They seem to be adding a few years of age at a time to the NHS booking site, not directly in line with the groups. So it went to 64+, then 60+, now 56+. In a few days it will probably go a few years lower but not as low as 50 immediately

i'm 55 - tried booking earlier but no luck

I'm 51 got my text yesterday asking me to book in ...it on March 20 th !!!

It doesn't mean that, it means they have opened it to part of Group 8, and you can expect that to extend to the remainder shortly. It was also open to only 64+ for a while (so group 5 + one year of group 7) and then dropped down to over 60s.

It's just a mechanism to control patient flow.

Wouldn't hurt to explain that, though, would it?

DH is 55 (though v soon to be 56) and booked - maybe because the date is after his birthday?

Worth trying to book honestly, they open up the back end of the system earlier than the front end. If you're 55 you might be able to book already.

I guess if they had said "now open to group 8" I would agree that it wasn't clear but it just says age 56, with no reference to Group 8 - in a few days I expect it will say 55 and so on.

I can see it must be frustrating not to be able to book yet (according to the front page) but I think it's really important to look at where we are and feel reassured that we are moving through the ages fast.

I’m 55, partner is 56, we both got a text from our GP on the same day to book a vaccine.

I must admit I thought it was odd, the age discrepancy, there was also one when they were doing over 65, it was widely advertised as over 64

@bellinisurge

Hi HelloThereMeHearties , this isn't a thread about other countries. Although you are, of course welcome to talk about that. And I suspect it would mean more to you if you were 55. As you were.

I'm 55. 56 this year.

I am over 56. I got my letter yesterday. However I have still not decided if I will have a test or not. I am very pro vaccination so this is a very difficult one for me.

The NHS page doesn't mention group 8?

@Xenia

I am over 56. I got my letter yesterday. However I have still not decided if I will have a test or not. I am very pro vaccination so this is a very difficult one for me.

You're not being asked to get a test. You're being invited to get a vaccination. You say you're 'pro-vaccine'. So go and get the vaccine! I'm getting mine this week 💃🙌💃

@bellinisurge

Hi HelloThereMeHearties , this isn't a thread about other countries. Although you are, of course welcome to talk about that. And I suspect it would mean more to you if you were 55. As you were.

As you were?

Where’s the need?

Gosh, dementia must be setting in. I typed test but meant first injection.

I will bide my time and think it over.
I wish we knew:-

1. How long it gives you immunity once the first 21 days are up. I think it is 4 - 6 months but no one seems to have studied those who had the vaccination in December 2020 yet or not enough time has passed to know or from the trials. Everyone I know who has had it has been ill for 2 days and I am just about never ill so I doubt my body would be too happy with it either. Obviously I realise loads of people have no after effects at all of course.
2. If it stops you passing on the virus to someone else.

Well @Xenia, the answers are)

1. The jab does not give you immunity. It lowers your reaction to getting Covid, and has been proved to massively prevent severe illness and admission to hospital

2. Yes, it has been shown that people with lesser symptoms are less likely to pass the virus on to someone else.