Which areas are booking vaccines for over 40s?

[WombatChocolate]

Hi.
Am hearing that some over 40s are getting invited to book vaccines now.

If you have been invited, would you mind saying where you are please (don’t be precise if you don’t want to) and if you’ve been invited to book via local booking system that gives you appointments at the local centres, or via the national booking system to the mass centres/pharmacies.

My DH and I are late 40s and just so confused about what is going on. We were deflated by the news last week about the delays, but lots of people, still seem to be invited, it we can’t work out if it’s in our area and if locally led based on GP surgeries inviting or the national system letting some younger people book.

Hoping there are lots of you out there getting invited and it will be our turn soon too. Thanks.

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees

Is nobody else worried that if GPs are choosing to vaccinate under 40s when they've been told not to, there may not be enough for 2nd jabs in April when we know there will be a shortage? All the 70/80 + people that I know are due their 2nd shots in April.

Do you think the GPs have taken the predicted shortfall into account? I must admit it worries me a little, the rollout has been so good that it would be a shame for a lack of planning to screw it up now. I really hope my worries are irrational.

GP here - We have a load of vaccines with the expiry date 31/3/21, we got these allocated to us before the shortfall was announced and we are not planning to waste them. Once we had invited all of our over 50s and group 6, we started over 40s and this will continue until this batch of vaccines run out. From the beginning of April, most of what we are getting is for second doses so we have started booking those in.

I'm in Cornwall and I've not heard of anyone in their 40s without underlying health conditions or being an unpaid carer being called. Are those that are being called getting this from their GP?

Surrey, I know a 36 year old called through our GP with no underlying conditions. When he arrived for vaccine (2 weeks ago), there were lots his age there. I'm only a little younger but pregnant so haven't been called.

South Cambs, got invite today - booked for tomorrow. I’m 45, can’t wait!

GP here - We have a load of vaccines with the expiry date 31/3/21, we got these allocated to us before the shortfall was announced and we are not planning to waste them. Once we had invited all of our over 50s and group 6, we started over 40s and this will continue until this batch of vaccines run out. From the beginning of April, most of what we are getting is for second doses so we have started booking those in.

Thank you. That's reassuring, so GPs have all got the 2nd doses lined up ready to go when needed and there won't be a shortage?

Age 49. Haringey, London. Having mine tomorrow.

Somerset i know of
45 gp invite.

I think it's using up doses when inviting 50s.
As it sounds like our gp is mainly doing 50s but if not enough are replying.
Whereas if other areas have maybe given their 50s several chances

My exH was sent a text link to book last week - 41 with no underlying health problems. We’re in south Hampshire

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees

GP here - We have a load of vaccines with the expiry date 31/3/21, we got these allocated to us before the shortfall was announced and we are not planning to waste them. Once we had invited all of our over 50s and group 6, we started over 40s and this will continue until this batch of vaccines run out. From the beginning of April, most of what we are getting is for second doses so we have started booking those in.

Thank you. That's reassuring, so GPs have all got the 2nd doses lined up ready to go when needed and there won't be a shortage?

@Sweetpeaaremadeforbees Yes absolutely! The minute you get your first dose, your second dose is allocated to you. With the GP PCN sites, we don't know far in advance exactly when supplies will arrive so we were unable to book the second doses when patients had their first doses unlike the mass centres. But my patients who had their first doses in mid-January are now being booked for second doses starting from next Friday (Good Friday) and I'm not allowed to book any first dose patients into those specific clinics.

I’m 40, no underlying conditions and having mine tomorrow - north London borough.

47 Bournemouth

SW London, but it varies hugely depending on which GP you are with - even though the jabs are not done at the surgeries.

So I know of two surgeries who have been calling over 40s for a week or two now, but my surgery is still calling 55+. Sigh

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees

Are all these invites that people are getting coming directly from GP surgeries?

I got a text today from NHS telling me to call my GP to book the vaccine. I’m 40 and in Hampshire

Friend in Bristol city centre aged 28 or so got a call today
Meanwhile my husband 43 in other part of Bristol hasn’t been called

Lincolnshire- my DH 45 having it on Monday. No underlying health conditions. No invite for me yet tho (43) so presumably in strict age order.

I'm getting mine tomorrow, CM Essex. Aged 45. Was a text from my GP surgery last week

Norfolk

I'm in my 30s and had mine 2 weeks ago. I'm East Anglia.

London via gp text

A doctor interviewed on telly the other day said that it depends on the demographic in your surgery. If yours has higher numbers of older people it will take longer to get to the lower age groups. Not sure how accurate that is.

@ifyourefeelingsinister glad you posted. I'm beginning to think something is not right when 50+ haven't been done here. I know 3 people in their 60s who got theirs yesterday. Leaves me wondering what is going on when people in 30s and 40s elsewhere are getting invited.

They haven’t even done the over 50’s in my area so no chance of getting a vaccine until probably May! I’m 47 and my dh is 50. I’m in South Wales

Got a text today inviting to last clinic before May, local centre.
I'm 47, Yorkshire.

Dh 47 no health issues had his today in Dorset.
Me 43 beginning this month as unpaid carer.

Exactly, @mumwalk, it's starting to seem really arbitrary. Surely it makes sense to focus on areas with high rates of coronavirus Vs relatively low rates of vaccination, rather than start on people in their 30s?