Will I get turned away? Vaccine

[Eligiblebutwrongtick]

Having a last minute panic. I'm clinically vulnerable but GP didn't update my notes until few weeks ago. Got GP invite but I'm away from home. Heard about the April shortage and panic booked locally as an unpaid carer. Plan to show evidence from GP that I'm in group 6 but spoke to 119 earlier and they weren't sure it would be accepted. The local centre definitely checks if unpaid carer. They ask for proof of carers allowance or registration with GP as carer. Local news reported people being turned away without proof.

I can still get an appointment with my GP but it's a long expensive journey and the only availability is tomorrow. If I wait until the local appointment, it will be too late to go through GP. Agonising over what to do!

Just go to your appointment and explain - they'll want you to have the vaccine you've booked at the centre. They require some evidence; you are entitled so show the text message from GP as you're vulnerable and say that you are also an unpaid carer. The checks aren't and interrogation - you'll be fine!

You don’t need to show prof as an unpaid carer. If they ask just show them your booking reference and the text on the Gov website stating you don’t need proof.

Thanks for the reassurance. I shouldn't be but I'm still worried. The April shortage has panicked me. I think I'll travel to my GP to be on the safe side. Horrible long journey but it's the last day they've got availability. I shouldn't worry. I know local centres have turned some people away. Local news reported on it. They lied about being unpaid carers. My situation is slightly different. I have proof of being group 6 but there's the risk of a jobsworth computer says no thing. I suppose I should just be glad I'm getting a jab somewhere, journey or not!

If you have your nhs number it will show you arecentitled to the jab on their ststem.if your GP has registered you as being eligible it will gr in the nhs system. Dont worry. Youll be fine.

Can you book a Group 6 vaccine where you are currently fly living as all group 6 can book on the national system?

It won't let me book online. It says ineligible. The stress is keeping me awake. It seems silly taking the risk and expense of a long journey to the GP. I don't understand what's happened. GP told me I was coded on my GP records as group 6 cohort. They said it takes up to 2 weeks to update the national system. I don't know if there's an extra delay. I'd wait a few more days but with the April shortage it seems risky. I thought the email from my GP would be accepted by the local centre but 119 weren't sure when I called to ask. They said they couldn't guarantee it was enough.

Alternatively you could point them to the government SOP that explicitly states they shouldn't ask for proof you're an unpaid carer:
www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/sop-covid-19-vaccine-deployment-programme-unpaid-carers-jcvi-priority-cohort-6/

On page 8.

Just go

@Gladioli23

Alternatively you could point them to the government SOP that explicitly states they shouldn't ask for proof you're an unpaid carer: www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/sop-covid-19-vaccine-deployment-programme-unpaid-carers-jcvi-priority-cohort-6/

On page 8.

That’s not quite what it says to be fair. Technically they don’t ask for proof but you need to be added to the system and provide the nhs letter saying you’re an unpaid carer, so you’d logically habe your letter.

Some centres have not been asking for proof, but others have been. The one my husband used, he saw two women rejected from the queue as they had no letter etc. Other centres people are reporting you just rock up.

So I think yes, there is a chance, the op could be rejected.

Given it literally says you won't be asked for proof in the paragraph at the bottom, and SOP has a self identification option in the flow chart at the end of it (as well as the formal mechanisms) anywhere that is asking for proof is excluding vast numbers of unpaid carers of e.g. elderly people and this is specifically why the SOP does not require proof - you could be an unpaid carer and totally unable to prove it but it would still be true. That's why there's the option to self declare in the NBS. If sites are ignoring the SOP then they need to change their practices.

Do you have the text invitation yet? That's all you will need to show at the vaccination centre, I had to show mine 3 times. If not... You'll just have to explain and if they won't jab you then get it when you're home.

Can you log on to your GP health record and see a coded entry.

OP - if you can't see it then don't worry. My patient access doesn't show my covid vaccine invite, it shows the influenza vaccine invite and then there's just "Administration of first dose of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) vaccine".
(I had the flu vaccine but Boots didn't send an update for my GP records, and I got an underlying conditions text from the NHS main booking system.)

I don't think you'll have a problem. Now they've moved down to the over 50s, from various conversations, the vaccination centres seem to be supportive of reasons to give, rather than not to give, the vaccination. Particularly as you've booked an appointment.

I called 119 to check whether I qualified as an unpaid carer (which I did so they booked me in). They said to take proof if I could but equally they appreciated that not everyone could provide proof. As a back up, I took a letter signed by my parents detailing the care I provided, with their dates of birth and NHS numbers. Although I said I had a letter, no one at the pharmacy looked at it.

In your situation, I'm sure there won't be an issue given you have a medical condition that makes you eligible to be Group 6. I think it's likely they will take your word for it, although worth taking any notes or texts from your GP if you have them. Hope it goes well.

No harm in turning up and asking at vaccination centre. Whilst I was waiting for mine 2 weeks ago, a lady came in on the off chance to have hers and they gave her one. She had a letter as proof she was eligible.

I barely slept because of stressing over it. I called my GP surgery earlier. They're open on Sundays. Spoke to reception who insisted my medical notes had me flagged as clinically vulnerable. They think the GP email confirming I'm in group 6 is enough proof. I then called 119 again to double check and now I'm worried again. They were lovely and sympathised but warned I might get turned away. They'd spoken to other people recently who were turned away. They can't tell me the circumstances due to data protection. All I know is they lied about being unpaid carers. I have a feeling they had genuine eligibility otherwise why call 119 to say you lied. Perhaps genuine unpaid carers who have no proof?

I'm so stressed and fed up and almost want to not bother even turning up for the appointment. I will go but I know I'm going to feel so shit if I get turned away. I just hope they accept my GP evidence I'm eligible.

Don't have the NHS text invite, only the GP text invite that's separate from the national system. Hopefully together with my GP email it's enough.

The local area hasn't finished over 50s. It's apparently lagging behind other parts of the country. Perhaps why they're turning people away. I think it's a wasted appointment turning them away but I understand why as they're not eligible. It's just frustrating because it's different for me. I am eligible, just not updated on their system for some reason. I just hope I'm not turned away for being eligible but booking under a different group. It shouldn't matter as long as you're eligible. Just have to cross my fingers.

If it puts your mind at ease, I don't think vaccine centres are looking for reasons not to give vaccines. If it's marginal (and I'm sure it won't be in your case given you have evidence from your GP), they would rather give you the vaccine than not give it. Particularly as some areas are on to vaccinating younger adults now.

Have I understood this right- you are eligible due to health issue, but ticked the unpaid carer box?

The vaccination centre won't be interested in what you ticked when booking. Just in what actually makes you eligible. So just take some proof of your illness with you.

The GP email confirming group 6 is more thsn enough. The explanation. That you are going yo there rather thsn doctors as easier to get too is also fine.. And often expected for group 6 and above

Yes go and have proof of being G6 with you.
Shake you just been added and it takes 2 weeks to update the system - but that is a national issue, not yours.

I booked via 119 as CV and could do so because my NHS electronic notes had been updated by my GP, I could not book online though.

You’ll be fine, just had my first jab as an unpaid carer and was worried I’d be asked for proof - I earn too much for CA etc. Didn’t ask anything, they just want to get the job done. Go for it!

I was an unpaid carer when I booked my vaccine but am now a paid carer for one of my children.

I'm not sure who to update or do I update at all.

I tried to book via 119 today. Called and explained. Asked if they could cancel my unpaid carer slot and rebook as group 6. I asked if my NHS records were now coded as Group 6 but they said they don't have access to medical records. It was confusing. I assumed they'd have access after I gave them my NHS number. They've made me even more anxious as they told me they'd spoken to several people in the same position as me who'd been turned away. I'm in two minds whether to go right now. I have a feeling being turned away will affect my mental health. I feel stressed just thinking about it. It's not great knowing I'm clinically vulnerable but I honestly felt much less stressed before trying to book!

@seepingweeping if you're getting carers allowance, that counts as proof. I think you can also update your GP records to have you down as a paid carer.