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!

Is your condition one of the ones actually listed for group 6? And if it is, do you have an online GP patient access service (or similar)? I'd have thought proof of having a specific heart condition or something might be enough. I'm going to hope your text invite shows up tonight, would be easier.

The worst that can happen Is your turned away and your in the same position you are now, doesn't mean you won't ever get the chance to be vaccinated again, best thing that can happen is you turn up and get your vaccine. Got to be worth a shot.

I’m an unpaid carer. I had my text from the NHS and proof.

Nobody asked to see anything.

@Wellbythebloodyhell

The worst that can happen Is your turned away and your in the same position you are now, doesn't mean you won't ever get the chance to be vaccinated again, best thing that can happen is you turn up and get your vaccine. Got to be worth a shot.

Completely agree with this. As I mentioned earlier, vaccine centre staff are trying to vaccinate people, not find reasons not to and potentially waste a vaccine. Many of us unpaid carers had no external proof, but were not asked in any case.

Yes, you've booked in the wrong category but you do qualify under another category which you have proof of. I'd go to your appointment and I'm sure it will be fine.

they can't read your medical records but they can see if they are flagged as CV/Group 6.

The 119 handler I spoke to had to go right through the booking process to see if I was flagged as eligible on the system.

At the centre they asked if I was an unpaid carer and I just said no group 6, the said "oh we just have to ask everyone about that" - presumably this was because I looked under 60 which was the age restriction at the time.

I booked via the website as it said I was eligible. A few days later I got the text from my gp to book as I’m group 6. When I got to the test centre, they asked me to confirm that I was an unpaid carer. I’m not and didn’t declare it on the website (because I’m not an unpaid carer!). She said it must’ve been a mistake/glitch. I showed her the text from my gp inviting me to book and it was fine.

Try not to worry, I’m sure you’ll be ok.

I've got a good update! I called 119 and they rebooked me as group 6. I'm on the system now. It must've been a slow update or something. Thanks to for all the advice. Going tomorrow.

Nhs COVID booking online can book as unpaid carer without carer proof all you need to take to the appointment is a booking ref number.